Canberra retains its safe capital status

Canberrans feel the safest of anyone in the country, our fire services the most responsive and we have the best road safety statistics according to the 2020 Report on Government Services.

Emergency response

“Our emergency services are of the highest performing in the country and this has been demonstrated in recent months during the State of Alert for the ACT and through the support they have provided to other during bushfire emergencies.”

“For another year, ACT Fire Rescue has the fastest response time to building fires in the country. Our crews are well equipped and respond in an average of 9 minutes,” said Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman.

“The ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES) has welcomed 82 new volunteer recruits, adding to its 378 members following successful recruitment campaigns in 2018.

“The 52 new ACT SES recruits have increased the diversity of the volunteer base with 47 percent female, 53 percent male, nine members representing the culturally and linguistically diverse community and three members identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander,” Minister Gentleman said.

ACT Policing

“The ACT community feels safer than anywhere else in Australia when home alone at night and when using public transport,” said Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman.

“This is a testament to the great work of ACT Policing, which ranks above the national average for professionalism, fair treatment and honesty. Thanks to the efforts of our police officers, Canberra is a safe city with a downward trend in crime.

“The ACT continues to invest in the diversity of its team, 38 percent are female which is the second highest percentage in Australia.”

Road safety

The ACT has had the lowest number of road deaths per 100,000 people again in 2018-19, and we are below the national rate for traffic accident hospitalisations.

“The capital also had the highest proportion of drivers who always wear a seatbelt.

“ACT Policing actively promotes road safety in our community educating Canberra drivers about the dangers of speeding and driving to the conditions.”

Courts

“Our modern court facilities are now open and will add substantial capacity for the courts to keep pace with the criminal and civil lodgements seen in 2018-19,” said Attorney-General, Gordon Ramsay.

“A new ICT system will also achieve better efficiency and management of cases and help build on other restorative justice innovations such as the Drug and Alcohol Court, criminal case conferencing in the Supreme Court, and Circle Sentencing in the Children’s Court.”

Corrective services

The ACT remains the strongest performing jurisdiction for participation in detainee education and training at twice the national average. More detainees were employed in 2018-19 at 80.7 percent, above the national average of 80.3 percent.

“The ACT continues to be a leader in detainee education and training and is committed to supporting skill development to help detainees transition or return to the workforce and community,” Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Shane Rattenbury today.

“The ACT has made significant progress to increase opportunities for detainees to develop skills for employment after being released through expanding the Alexander Maconochie Centre Bakery, recycling, and industrial cleaning and ground maintenance capabilities.”

/Public Release. View in full here.