Mark Mitchell: Police Minister unpacks crime figures one year into his new role

The Police Minister is giving himself a pass mark one year into his new role, but acknowledges there's work to be done.

Last August, he said if the public hadn't started to see a change in public safety within a year of his appointment, he'd resign.

Mark Mitchell believes he's delivered, pointing to a three percent reduction in victimisations in the first nine months of the year - compared to the same period last year.

He says things are headed in the right direction, but more need to be done.

"We're working hard and achieving results - and although there's a lot more to do, we are headed in the right direction, no doubt." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, the police minister over here is crowing about
crime figures. The later stats from the coppers show ram
raids are down sixty percent, foot patrols are up thirty percent,
aggravated robberies are down eleven percent, and burglaries a down
ten percent. Mark Mitchell is the police minister and with
us now, hey, Mark.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hi here, they think. So, I'm definitely not crowing. There's
still a lot of work to do, but I think
it's important to report on progress.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
I've overwritten it. I apologize, but you have to be
I mean, you have to be reasonably please because you
don't have to quit your job, now, do you No?

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, I did put a line on the sea and
I felt that was really important, and I gave myself
twelve months to be able to show the country that
I was working hard and achieving results. And although there's
a long way to go and there's a lot more
to two, you know, we are hidding in the right direction,
without of doubt.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
What do you reckon is the reason for these these
figures turning around?

Speaker 2 (00:49):
I think, well, number one, we have a world class
police service. I think that my letter that I released
publicly oncoming government to the Commissioner outlining the coalition government's priorities,
where there's definitely helped refocus back to basics, more beat
officers out on the ground that are much tougher approach
and starts to policing gangs and protecting the public's right

(01:11):
to freedom of movement, and so you know, there's a
whole combination of things. But all of these results are
our police officers, our frontline police officers that get out
there every day and doing our standing job.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Now, how are you feeling about the he coy tomorrow,
because apparently there's some concern that there might be a
little bit of trouble at Parliament, although they seem to
be making a real attempt to be peaceful.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
No, I'm feeling positive about it. So the organizers of
the HCOR we have engaged really positively with police. There's
been a lot of work going on behind the scenes. Obviously,
we were really clear that we wanted absolute minimum disruption
to members of the public that are trying to go
about their daily business and that's largely achieved and so
I think so I'm positive about it. I think that

(01:52):
they've made a commitment to a peaceful protest at Parliament, which,
of course in a democracy like ours, is really important
to be able to do. So. Yeah, I think the
police have done outstanding job. The organizers have certainly stuck
to what they committed to and I don't see any
reason why that would change.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
And what about the gang members They actually planning a
protest with their patches on Thursday.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
Well, there might be some game members turned up on Thursday.
I mean, I don't think I know that the organizer
the heck, we do not want other groups coming in
and trying to hijack the event and dilute the message
that they are protesting on. So I don't know whether
that will happen with the games or not. They might
have a last flurry and the remaining a few days
that they can wear their patches, but we don't anticipate

(02:31):
there's going to be big issues on Parliament grounds tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Okay, Mike, thank you very much. Appreciated about much all
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