The job is to reduce crime and fear, says superintendent

Brisbane Water Local Area commander Superintendent Danny Sullivan said his core business was not only to reduce crime but also to reduce people's fear of crime.

As far as crime reduction, he said the official figures spoke for themselves and that rates of crime were definitely on their way down on the Peninsula.

"The gap in my services provision is in reducing the fear of crime and that is a perception," Supt Sullivan said.

"My message to the community is to report incidents, give us a chance to do our job," he said.

"Every week, month, quarter and year we review every crime report, where it was, the time it occurred, to create patterns of behaviour.

"That information determines where we deploy our police for the future period."

Although it is important for the community to understand that "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" is needed before a person can be charged and prosecuted for a crime, that should not deter members of the public from reporting incidents that they consider concerning or suspicious, he said.

"That information might highlight a person of interest that we can then feed into our suspect management system," he said.

He explained that one troublesome youth on the Peninsula had recently been dealt with by the police 24 times before he could be arrested and placed in custody.

"But we are constantly monitoring the behavior of those individuals," he said.

Supt Sullivan also said that he wanted the Peninsula community to know the Brisbane Water Local Area Command was conducting over 50 community engagement actions every month.

"I would like to encourage the whole community to be friends with us on Facebook," he said.

He said the LAC facebook page was a great place for the Peninsula community to learn about how it is being serviced by its local command.

Supt Sullivan listed the following community initiatives as programs that he believed helped to both reduce crime and the fear of crime.

They included school liaison police programs, drug dog operations, Home Safe, visits by the mounted unit and the Community Drug Action Team to work with vulnerable local teenagers.

The Brisbane Water Local Area Command also ran Lattitude, a program that liaises with local retailers, Peninsula Links days, Seniors Getting Around Safely programs, domestic violence workshops, coffee with a cop and regular car park audits.

It is currently working with Gosford Council and Regional Youth Support Services on a youth engagement strategy.

Supt Sullivan wrote a submission to Gosford Council to support the Ettalong community's campaign against the development of a boarding house in the area.

He said the LAC had a close relationship with Mingaletta and always had a presence at community events including the Oyster Festival at Ettalong and Club Umina Community Day.

"We do a lot of work with vulnerable people in partnership with the Department of Housing," Supt Sullivan said.

He said one way the community could help to reduce both the fear of crime and actual crime would be to take more responsibility for locking their cars, not leaving valuables in their cars and locking their houses properly.

"Someone looking for a car to steel from the commuter carpark will try every door and one will invariably be unlocked," he explained.

"The police have to be in the right place at the right time to prevent that crime but it is something that is within the control of the community.

"When we do a carpark audit we ask people why they have just left their car unlocked with their purse on the front seat and they invariably say 'yes but I'm just going to' and most of those crimes, theft from a car, theft of a car or breaking into a home, happen within that 'I'm just going to' period of time," he said.

Supt Sullivan said another important community event was for White Ribbon Day held in Woy Woy's Deep Water Plaza.

Domestic violence is the number one crime reported to Brisbane Water LAC and officers attend between 100 and 150 incidents per week, most of which are on the Peninsula.

According to Supt Sullivan, current community perceptions about a spike in youth crime are being underpinned by the fact that many 14 to 17 year olds have unsafe homes due to domestic violence.

"Their homes are unsafe so they go to the streets.

"They are unsupervised on the streets and that is where the crime occurs.

"Rather than focusing on youth crime, the real issue is family dysfunction," Supt Sullivan said.

Offenders in the 14 to 17 year old age bracket provided particular challenges for the local police command, according to Supt Sullivan.

"We can arrest them but their mum, dad or guardian have a far greater role to play," he said.

"Our message to the community is that we take crime seriously so call the police if you need help.

"We want to be called for everything.

"We are in a data-driven business and we need information," he said.

Supt Sullivan said that 000 is the right number to call if you are in an imminent and life-threatening situation.

He said although most members of the community think they should call their local police station for non-life threatening matters, it is better to call Policelink on 131 444.

The 131 444 number will connect you to a call centre with trained operators who can take down all your details and put your call for help directly through to nearest patrol car or available officers.

The third option available to members of the community who have concerns or think crime might be happening but wish to remain anonymous is Crime Stoppers, Supt Sullivan said.

Interview 3 Mar 2016

Danny Sullivan, Brisbane Water Local area Command

Reporter: Jackie Pearson