The Australian Federal Police Association has warned that escalating violence in ACT public health facilities is placing additional pressure on ACT Policing members and exposing police to avoidable risk.
The warning follows a Canberra Liberals motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly today, which refers to repeated and escalating incidents of occupational violence across the ACT public health system, including assaults, strangulation, unsafe clinical areas and more than 100 incidents of physical harm to staff within the Critical Services Building.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said violence in hospitals does not remain confined to the health system.
“When violence escalates in a hospital, police are often the last line of defence. ACT Policing members are called into volatile environments where they may have limited information, limited control over the setting and limited ability to prevent the situation before it reaches a crisis point.
“This is not just a health workforce issue. It is a police safety issue, a public safety issue and a resourcing issue.” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA said the ACT Government must stop relying on police to absorb the consequences of unsafe systems across other parts of government.
Mr Caruana said that when hospital security arrangements are inadequate, police are called.
“When dangerous behaviour is not properly managed, police are called. When information is not shared early enough, police are called after the risk has already escalated.
“That means ACT Policing members are being placed into high-risk situations that could have been reduced or prevented with better planning, better information sharing and stronger frontline safety systems.” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA supports the release of de-identified quarterly data on occupational violence across ACT public health facilities but says that reporting must also capture police demand.
Mr Caruana said that any public reporting should include the number of police attendances, repeat callouts, weapons-related incidents, assaults, threats, and incidents in which police were required to restore safety.
“If the ACT Government wants to understand the real impact of violence in public facilities, it must measure the pressure being pushed onto police.”
“The AFPA also supports a review of ACT laws to determine whether penalties and protections are strong enough when frontline workers, including police and emergency responders, are assaulted while serving the community.
“Police officers should not be expected to repeatedly walk into dangerous environments because another system has failed to control the risk.
“The ACT needs laws, security settings and operational procedures that deter violence, protect frontline workers and reduce avoidable police callouts,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA is calling on the ACT Government to:
- Include ACT Policing service in any reporting on violence across public health facilities.
- Review whether ACT laws provide adequate penalties for assaults against frontline workers, including police.
- Ensure hospital security arrangements reduce risk before police intervention becomes necessary.
- Report publicly on what action has been taken to reduce violence and police callouts.
Mr Caruana said ACT Policing members will always respond when the community needs them, but the government must not treat police as a substitute for safe systems.
“Our members will always respond to serious incidents, but they should not be used as the default solution for preventable violence.
“The ACT Government needs to fix the systems that are pushing this risk onto police. Better reporting, stronger laws, proper security and earlier information sharing would protect police, health workers and the public.” Mr Caruana said.
Media Contact AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts, (02) 6285 1677, troy.r@afpa.org.au
The Australian Federal Police Association has warned that escalating violence in ACT public health facilities is placing additional pressure on ACT Policing members and exposing police to avoidable risk.
The warning follows a Canberra Liberals motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly today, which refers to repeated and escalating incidents of occupational violence across the ACT public health system, including assaults, strangulation, unsafe clinical areas and more than 100 incidents of physical harm to staff within the Critical Services Building.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said violence in hospitals does not remain confined to the health system.
“When violence escalates in a hospital, police are often the last line of defence. ACT Policing members are called into volatile environments where they may have limited information, limited control over the setting and limited ability to prevent the situation before it reaches a crisis point.
“This is not just a health workforce issue. It is a police safety issue, a public safety issue and a resourcing issue.” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA said the ACT Government must stop relying on police to absorb the consequences of unsafe systems across other parts of government.
Mr Caruana said that when hospital security arrangements are inadequate, police are called.
“When dangerous behaviour is not properly managed, police are called. When information is not shared early enough, police are called after the risk has already escalated.
“That means ACT Policing members are being placed into high-risk situations that could have been reduced or prevented with better planning, better information sharing and stronger frontline safety systems.” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA supports the release of de-identified quarterly data on occupational violence across ACT public health facilities but says that reporting must also capture police demand.
Mr Caruana said that any public reporting should include the number of police attendances, repeat callouts, weapons-related incidents, assaults, threats, and incidents in which police were required to restore safety.
“If the ACT Government wants to understand the real impact of violence in public facilities, it must measure the pressure being pushed onto police.”
“The AFPA also supports a review of ACT laws to determine whether penalties and protections are strong enough when frontline workers, including police and emergency responders, are assaulted while serving the community.
“Police officers should not be expected to repeatedly walk into dangerous environments because another system has failed to control the risk.
“The ACT needs laws, security settings and operational procedures that deter violence, protect frontline workers and reduce avoidable police callouts,” Mr Caruana said.
The AFPA is calling on the ACT Government to:
- Include ACT Policing service in any reporting on violence across public health facilities.
- Review whether ACT laws provide adequate penalties for assaults against frontline workers, including police.
- Ensure hospital security arrangements reduce risk before police intervention becomes necessary.
- Report publicly on what action has been taken to reduce violence and police callouts.
Mr Caruana said ACT Policing members will always respond when the community needs them, but the government must not treat police as a substitute for safe systems.
“Our members will always respond to serious incidents, but they should not be used as the default solution for preventable violence.
“The ACT Government needs to fix the systems that are pushing this risk onto police. Better reporting, stronger laws, proper security and earlier information sharing would protect police, health workers and the public.” Mr Caruana said.
Media Contact AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts, (02) 6285 1677, troy.r@afpa.org.au
