NCJ Number
51049
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF POLICE AND POLICE FUNCTIONS IN AUSTRALIA'S EXTERNAL TERRITORIES OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND, COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS, AND NORFOLK ISLAND ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF THESE ISLANDS ARE TRACED. CONCURRENT WITH THE ASSUMPTION OF AUSTRALIAN SOVEREIGNTY, THE POLICE FORCE ORDINANCE OF 1958 WAS COMMENCED. ALTHOUGH THE ORDINANCE HAS SINCE BEEN REPEALED, IT HAD THE EFFECT OF CREATING A POLICE FORCE FOR CHRISTMAS ISLAND. THE POLICE FORCE IS COMPRISED OF 17 MEMBERS, AND A POLICE ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1975 IS REPRESENTED IN INDUSTRIAL MATTERS BY THE LARGER UNION OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND WORKERS. POLICE ON THE ISLAND ARE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE POLICE FORCE ORDINANCE OF 1973, WITH THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF THE POLICE FORCE VESTED IN A POLICE COMMISSIONER. LITTLE SERIOUS CRIME IS COMMITTED ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND, THEFT BEING THE MAJOR CRIME CATEGORY. WITH NO FULL-TIME MEMBERS, THE POLICE FORCE ON COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS EXISTS MORE ON PAPER THAN IN ACTUALITY. THIS SITUATION EXISTS BECAUSE THERE IS INSUFFICIENT WORK PROVIDED BY ISLAND INHABITANTS FOR A FULL-TIME POLICE OFFICER. IF A SITUATION OCCURS REQUIRING EXPERTISE BEYOND THE COMPETENCE OF ISLAND RESIDENTS, A POLICE OFFICER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ANOTHER JURISDICTION. THE POLICE FORCE ON NORFOLK ISLAND IS FUNDED BY AND RESPONSIBLE TO THE TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION. THE INCIDENCE OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES ON NORFOLK ISLAND IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND, DESPITE THE LARGER RESIDENT POPULATION OF THE LATTER. TRAFFIC CHARGES PREDOMINATE ON NORFOLK ISLAND BUT OTHER OFFENSES INCLUDE MALICIOUS DAMAGE, ASSAULT, STEALING, BREAKING AND ENTERING, CANNABIS POSSESSION, AND DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR OR DRUGS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)