00:01Mark, we'll start with a couple of words about today.
00:03Please tell us what I've done for.
00:04Yeah, it's a really special day today.
00:06Awards ceremonies give me a chance to be with our officers.
00:09Recognise them for both service to the community
00:11and extended periods of service to the community,
00:13but also some real meritorious and courageous actions.
00:17Any notables here today? What have you done?
00:20This will be the third one I've done.
00:21So I was at Griffithon Tuesday, we went to Wagga Wagga yesterday.
00:25Great to come over here today.
00:26Some of the citations that I read for bravery,
00:29some of the arrests that police make of armed offenders
00:31is truly outstanding.
00:33Some of their commitment to domestic and family violence
00:35as well is worth calling out.
00:36So as a police force we are committed to reducing
00:39domestic and family violence.
00:41Some of our officers go above and beyond.
00:43Particularly here in the regions,
00:44why is it so important that we recognise the officers
00:47who maybe, you know, don't get the spotlight
00:49that maybe Metro officers do?
00:51Regional policing is different to metropolitan policing.
00:54We live in the community, part of the community,
00:56play with the community,
00:57rely very much on that community partnership.
01:00One of the overwhelming messages I get from the community
01:03when I come out into regional areas
01:04is how important that partnership is.
01:06So it's a great opportunity for me
01:08because I don't always get to personally recognise
01:10our officers in the regions
01:12and that's why it's so important to be here today.
01:17I've got a couple of questions about some other issues.
01:20Police in numbers here in Albury
01:21have been patched on for a long time.
01:23Do you know how short you are now?
01:24Well, recruitment and retention is one of my key priorities
01:27for the whole organisation.
01:29Statewide, we've got two and a half thousand vacancies
01:31at the moment.
01:31But I'm really pleased to say that that is turning around quickly.
01:34We've had a 70% increase in applications across the state
01:38since we started paying recruits at the academy.
01:41What's been fantastic and really significant
01:42for the Murray River Police District
01:44is a program that we started Be A Cop In Your Hometown.
01:47We're finding that a lot of people that are residents of Albury
01:50have gone, become police officers and they come back to Albury.
01:54Part of that program is that we want to encourage
01:56local members of the community to come back.
01:58We'd love to see more people from Daniloquin and Moama
02:01and other parts of Murray River Police District
02:03actually apply under that program.
02:05Is it happening fast enough?
02:06One of the large concerns we hear locally
02:08is police not turning up for jobs in a timely manner
02:11or not even picking up the phone call?
02:13I think our police do an outstanding job.
02:1524 hours a day, seven days a week.
02:18We do prioritise.
02:19So if there's a particular risk to life,
02:21of course police will be there quickly.
02:23Our police get around to all of those jobs there.
02:25The police commander has the ability
02:27to actually be agile and move resources around as you need to.
02:30And I think as a commander,
02:31Commander Smith does an excellent job.
02:33I think our police and the service to the community
02:35and the feedback I get from the community in Albury
02:38is that that police partnership is working really well.
02:41The police response is really well.
02:43But I make no apology for the fact
02:45that I want to continue recruiting police into the organisation
02:49so you see more police on the street.
02:51It sounds like you're indicating that it's not really an issue.
02:54Oh, there's always.
02:55I've said there's a two and a half thousand vacancy
02:57in the police force at the moment,
02:58which is something that is not acceptable to me.
03:01It's not where I want the organisation to be.
03:03It is something that has been seen nationwide.
03:05So police forces around the country
03:07have experienced the same sort of things.
03:09We've seen external factors overseas
03:11which have driven some of that, I suppose,
03:13unwillingness for young people to join the police force.
03:16Things like defunding the police over in America
03:18has an impact on our recruitment.
03:20What I'm pleased about is that is turning around really quickly.
03:23We'll attest a new class in August this year
03:25which will have over 350 officers.
03:28Obviously, you know, we're now paying recruits at the academy
03:31and we've had programs like The Bear Cop in your hometown.
03:33What else do you think would be done
03:34to maybe encourage people to join the force?
03:37I think really having that partnership we have with you
03:39and it's about promoting why the New South Wales Police Force
03:41is an employer of choice,
03:43why there are so many opportunities for young people
03:46to join the police force.
03:47You can have 200 careers within one career.
03:50If you want to be a dog handler,
03:52if you want to be in a helicopter,
03:53if you want to do general duties, forensics, detectives,
03:56you can do it all in the New South Wales Police Force.
03:58It is a wonderful career.
04:01When you came into the job last year,
04:04at the end of last year,
04:05you toured the regional areas
04:06and set out your plan for how you want to turn things around.
04:09How's that going?
04:10Really pleased.
04:11As I said, I can see the turnaround certainly in recruitment.
04:14Recruitment and retention is really key to regional areas.
04:17The more police we can have in communities, the better it works.
04:20Obviously, the safer communities are.
04:22Some of the priorities I set out when I first came into the job,
04:25domestic and family violence.
04:27And you have seen a concerted effort from the police,
04:29particularly in Murray River Police District.
04:31They had a day of action in April
04:33where they focused on the most serious offenders,
04:35arrested 12 of those.
04:37We have a state ride operation called Amarok
04:40that we run four times a year.
04:42Murray River contributes significantly to those arrests.
04:45That's about taking those offenders
04:46that commit the greatest harm to victims
04:48off the street and before the courts.
04:51Youth crime is another one that we continue to focus on.
04:53It's not simply a challenge for this community.
04:56It's right around the state at the moment.
04:58We are seeing young people involved in more serious crimes
05:01than ever before.
05:03And that's why we have such a concerted effort,
05:05both to prevent but then to respond quickly.
05:07Is there an issue with young people
05:09who get charged with crimes, account and bail together?
05:12Obviously, that's a matter for the court.
05:13The court determined bail.
05:14Our job as a police force is to put people
05:17before the court where it's appropriate.
05:18But what I want to focus on is trying to divert young people
05:21from getting into a life of crime.
05:23And that's really the focus of this organisation.
05:25We do a lot of work with PCYCs.
05:27We do a lot of work with providers.
05:29A lot of work at schools to try to make sure
05:31that youth go down a different path.
05:33It must be frustrating to make youth rest
05:35and then see a ballot bail the next day.
05:37I think it's one of those ones that we probably share a concern
05:40with the community from time to time.
05:42Because some of these young people that are in the community
05:44committing these offences,
05:46we have to continually put back before the court.
05:49But really, that is the role of the judiciary.
05:51We support the judiciary.
05:53And they've got a difficult job to do.
05:54Our job is to do the best we can to investigate
05:57and put people before the court.
05:58And finally, just looking forward,
06:01there's a long way to go.
06:02I mean, here, even looking at the local crime stats,
06:04assaults is double state average,
06:07stalking and harassment intimidation, double state average,
06:09property damage, double state average.
06:11Looking forward, are we going to turn this around locally?
06:13Yeah, a lot of work to do.
06:14And I think where you said,
06:15we've got a very committed commander,
06:16a very committed police district.
06:19What I'd like to take and the positives for the community
06:21is if you look at the box our stats,
06:23crime in the community here is stable
06:25or falling in the majority of crime categories.
06:28Is that acceptable?
06:29No, it's not.
06:30That means we will double down
06:31to make sure we keep the community safer.
06:33And I think that is our commitment.
06:35I'm sure that's what the commander will tell you.
06:37And he works closely with you.
06:38It's a partnership.
06:39So we need the community to report matters.
06:41We need information from the community
06:43because we want to keep you safe.
06:51Recruitment Roadshow.
06:54Yeah, on recruitment.
06:56It's great having the commissioner here.
06:58If you want to join the team,
06:591st of September, Albury.
07:012nd of September, Denelequin.
07:03We'll have the roadshow out again, recruiting.
07:05So if you want to join the team, come along.
07:08What does this roadshow apply?
07:09Really, it's all about what you need to do to join the police.
07:13We'll do your tests, your agility tests,
07:15your psychometric tests, save your trip to Sydney
07:18and we could sign you up on the day.
07:19I guess, how important is it that, you know,
07:23we come to you rather than expecting, as you said,
07:25people to go to Sydney for recruitment?
07:27I think that helps.
07:29It certainly helps and gives you a look
07:31at what you may be getting yourself into.
07:33It's not for some people,
07:34but some people might decide to give it a go.
07:38I'm sorry, just locally,
07:40I know we've had the police officers
07:42arrange a different career options from forensics
07:44to, you know, being in the air, being on the ground.
07:46What areas or sort of positions do you find
07:49need the most attention in our area?
07:51Well, our general duties is frontline,
07:53both here and at Denelequin.
07:55That's where we will get you in to start your career
07:57and from there you can branch out just about anywhere.
08:00Not only different sections, but different areas.
08:03It might be to a small town like Urena
08:05where you get your own house provided as well.
08:09Talk to us about the police awards today.
08:11What's it like to see recognition?
08:12Oh, listen, it is a great day for us.
08:15Probably our best day of the year.
08:17There's some really good awards
08:19and we'll give you some examples.
08:21But recognition, a long service,
08:23but recognition of great work and bravery as well,
08:26as the Commissioner said.
08:28A couple other interns that want to ask you a couple of questions
08:32about a couple of videos.
08:34First, the all-nails industry trying to enter a house in North Albury.
08:37Has this incident been reported to police?
08:39Listen, we're looking into that.
08:41Certainly, if it has been reported,
08:44our investigators are on to it.
08:45But information from the public, please assist us.
08:49Crime stoppers, with anything you've got.
08:52I'm assuming you've seen what we're talking about.
08:54What's your reaction to seeing that happen here?
08:57Well, it's unfortunate, mate, but it does happen.
09:00I wanted to ask you as well, a separate video,
09:03some kids kicking down a fence, also in North Albury.
09:07Are you aware of repeat offenders in that area?
09:09Listen, mate, we've got plenty of repeat offenders
09:11and they're before the court a lot of the time.
09:13We need the public to work with us to get them before the court.
09:17So, if you've got that information, we've got trouble.
09:20Some people in North Albury vandalism,
09:23it's not just that area.
09:24It's something that's happened a lot.
09:26It's happened repeatedly.
09:27What do you mean to address youth vandalism in North Albury?
09:30Listen, we saturate those areas.
09:32We put people before the court.
09:34But it's not just youth.
09:36They always get the bad rap.
09:38There's plenty of adult offenders
09:39that need to be before the court as well.
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