Annual report 2021-22 - Overview: about the agency

Our Purpose

Under the Police Act 1998, the purpose of South Australia Police (SAPOL) is to reassure and protect the community in relation to crime and disorder by the provision of services to uphold the law; preserve the peace; prevent crime; assist the public in emergency situations; co-ordinate and manage responses to emergencies; regulate road use and prevent vehicle collisions.

Our Vision

Safer Communities – recognises our continuing commitment to reduce community harm through a prevention first mindset.

Our Values

Our values are: Service Integrity, Courage, Leadership, Collaboration and Respect.

Our functions, objectives and deliverables

SAPOL 2030 and Safer Communities vision recognise SAPOL as a valued contributor to the prosperity of the South Australian community through the prevention, disruption, detection and prosecution of crime and preventing road trauma.

We continue to build on the strong foundations that have seen us remain contemporary and highly regarded. The foundation for organisational growth and quality service delivery are guided by our five principles of:

• Our People, Our Strength - our values underpin everything we do, providing a foundation to achieve our 2030 vision,
• Prevention First - take every opportunity to prevent crime, disorder and road trauma,
• Community Centred, Socially Minded - enhancing transparency and engagement to build trust and confidence,
• Collaborative Partnerships - we will identify external expertise and build these insights and learnings into our operational and   business strategies; and
• Technology Enabled Policing - optimising the use of technology provides new opportunities for disruption, enforcement, criminal investigation and prosecution.

Keeping the community safe and our commitment to this strategy will drive our business through our core programs of:

• Public Safety – responding to calls for service, emergency response and managing major community events to realise safer communities,
• Crime and   Criminal Justice Services – a prevention first approach to reduce community impact of offending, support victims and provide effective criminal justice services; and
• Road Safety – reduce trauma on our roads.

The Hon Joe Szakacs MP is the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services.

His portfolio also includes responsibility for Road Safety. The Minister oversees South Australia Police programs of Public Safety, Crime and Criminal Justice Services and Road Safety.

Grant Stevens is the Commissioner of Police, responsible for leading South Australia Police and the State Coordinator under the Emergency Management Act 2004.

Areas reporting directly to the Commissioner include:

• COVID-19 State Controller Police,
• Business Service,
• Governance and Capability Service,
• Information Systems and Technology Service; and
• Human Resources Service.

Linda Williams is the Deputy Commissioner, responsible for assisting the Commissioner in leading South Australia Police.

Areas reporting directly to the Deputy Commissioner include:

• COVID-19 Operations Command,
• Metropolitan Operations Service,
• State Operations Service,
• Security and Emergency Management Service,
• Operations Support Service; and
• Crime Service.

Stephen Johinke is the Executive Director Business Service, responsible for:

• corporate management of financial, asset and information
  resources,
• service delivery of expiation notice processing, exhibit
  property management, vehicle impounding; and
• information release.

John Venditto is the Assistant Commissioner Crime Service, responsible for:

• specialist investigation services for serious, organised or
  complex criminal activity,
• state-wide responsibility for the provision of high level criminal investigations; and
• investigative and specialist technical support to Districts and Local Service Areas.

Philip Newitt is the Assistant Commissioner Governance and Capability Service and Deputy State Controller Police, responsible for:

• executive support to the Commissioner and the Deputy,
• corporate governance and organisational capability,
• performance reporting to executive, government and the public,
• performance policy and strategy development,
• legislative reform; and
• identifying and addressing emerging issues.

Kim-Sherie Summers is the Executive Director Human Resources Service, responsible for:

• strategic leadership and direction in the planning, development and promotion of efficient and effective organisational human resource management policies and practices including workforce planning,
• staff development,
• equity and diversity,
• industrial relations; and
• occupational health, safety and injury management.

Hamish Cameron is the Executive Director Information Systems and Technology Service, responsible for:

• Information and Communications Technology (ICT) advice and services in relation to security, architecture, business consulting, infrastructure and communications, software support and maintenance and project delivery,
• the Service Desk for all ICT-related issues and requests; and
• the strategic direction and policies relating to technology.

Scott Duval is the Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Operations Service, responsible for:

• operational policing services to the central business district (CBD) and the greater Adelaide metropolitan area comprising of four districts; and
• safety on metropolitan public transport.

Linda Fellows is the Assistant Commissioner Operation Support Service, responsible for:

• centrally located, specialist operation support to the Districts, Local Service Areas and Crime Service,
• prosecution services,
• firearms and licensing enforcement,
• state intelligence; and
• forensic services.

Ian Parrott is the Assistant Commissioner State Operations Service, responsible for:

• operational policing services to all South Australian regional areas and rural areas comprising seven Local Service areas,
• the operations of the State Tactical Response Group; and
• road safety services across the state.

Noel Bamford is the Assistant Commissioner Security and Emergency Management Service and State Controller Police, responsible for:

• strategic support to the State Coordinator in the multi-agency response to the COVID-19 pandemic,
• counter terrorism and high risk incident operations,
• emergency management and major event planning,
• state-wide community access to police services via the Triple Zero ‘000’ and 131 444 telephone numbers,
• search and rescue, airborne law enforcement operations; and
• public order management.

Craig Patterson is the Assistant Commissioner COVID-19 Police Command Operations, responsible for:

• strategic and operational commitment to the COVID-19
  pandemic response including border control,
• ensuring the decisions, delegations and specific requests of the State Coordinator are being achieved,
• responsible for enforcing community compliance with
  Emergency Management Act 2004 COVID-19 directions; and
• engagement with multi-agencies in support of SA Health in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stuart McLean, Assistant Commissioner responsible for:

strategic support to the State Coordinator in the multi-agency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police Act 1998

Protective Security Act 2007

Police Regulations 2014

Public Assemblies Act 1972

Firearms Act 2015

Witness Protection Act 1996

Hydroponics Industry Control Act 2009

Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 1996