Police from across Australia have launched Operation Unification - Illicit Firearms, a two-week operation which aims to remove illicit firearms from the hands of criminals.

Supported by SAPOL and Crime Stoppers and led by the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA), this joint, nationwide crackdown on illicit firearms will target weapons that are illegally imported or manufactured in Australia or stolen from registered owners and potentially used in criminal activities.

Operation Unification is part of a broader range of measures used by SAPOL to tackle illicit firearms activity. It follows on from the recent Operation Disarm which offered significant rewards for information on illegal weapons, and last year's Gun Amnesty, which saw more than 3000 unwanted or unregistered weapons handed in.

Anyone with information about the location of illegal firearms, or the identity of anyone using, making or keeping illegal firearms can anonymously call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.sa.crimestoppers.com.au.

For further information about Operation Unification - Illicit Firearms please visit the ANZPAA website.

Read more at SA Police News.

A DRIVING FORCE IN ROAD SAFETY

Sergeant John Illingworth was awarded the South Australia Police Officer of the Year for 2012 at a ceremony held in Rundle Mall on Tuesday, 21 May.

The well-known Program Coordinator with SAPOL's Road Safety Section was nominated for his tireless and inspirational work in promoting road safety to the community and his valuable contribution to a range of road safety programs including 'Towards Zero Together', 'Living Neighbourhoods' and 'Way2GO' bike education for children.

Sergeant Illingworth has been a driving force behind SAPOL's highly acclaimed Road Safety Centre which opened in February this year.

He has played a pivotal role in developing the new partnership between SAPOL and Humphrey B Bear, with the iconic character featured in a range of road safety education material for children visiting the centre.

Sergeant Illingworth received several nominations for the prestigious award, with nominees such as the Motor Accident Commission praising his positive attributes and knowledge towards enhancing road safety and the influence this has had in reducing the trauma experienced in our community.

Read more at SA Police News.

OPEN DAY TO CELEBRATE POLICE HISTORY
 
The South Australian Police Historical Society will be holding an Open Day on Sunday, 26 May 2013 to celebrate History Week and commemorate 175 years of SAPOL. Held at Thebarton Barracks (1 Gaol Road, Adelaide) from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm, the event will provide a great opportunity to re-live police history.
 
Visit the Police Museum and experience the rich diversity of 175 years of policing in South Australia and learn why the South Australian Police Force was established just 16 months after the proclamation of the colony - one which was to consist of free settlers who it had been believed would not commit any crime. A Police Historical Society guide will be on hand to answer your questions.
 
Entry to the Open Day will cost $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children, with parking available outside Thebarton Barracks.
 
Enquiries to the South Australian Police Historical Society, telephone 820 74099 or email historical@police.sa.gov.au. Office is staffed on Wednesday and Thursday only.

With the revitalisation of the rail network well underway, SAPOL's Transit Services Branch has produced a timely reminder for the travelling public who access the Adelaide Metro network.

The Travel Safety Guide is a handy pocket-sized guide containing valuable safety tips and information for commuters using public transport.

The guide is available from the Adelaide Metro Info Centres located on the corner of Currie Street and King William Street in the city and at the Adelaide Railway Station. You can also download a copy of the guide here.

Popular renovation series The Block returns to our screens on Sunday, 12 May and this time it promises to have an arresting storyline. Twin SAPOL members, Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, have replaced their accoutrement belt with a tool belt and started laying the foundations for success as they tackle a major renovation of an ex-motel building in South Melbourne.

Over the next few months the two constables from Sturt Local Service Area will represent South Australia as they battle against teams from other states in the quest to nail the major prize.

SAPOL will provide regular updates of Alisa and Lysandra's progress throughout The Block Sky High on the SA Police News Facebook page as they bid to build on the success of fellow South Australians Phil and Amity Rankine won recently won the "All Stars" version of The Block.

Read more at SA Police News.

'WHERE IS?'... PROPERTY THEFT PREVENTION

SAPOL's 'Where is? Property Theft Prevention' posters aim to raise the community's awareness about securing personal property when out and about. 

Licenced premises, including hotels, cafes and restaurants can be seen as an easy target for the theft of handbags, tablets and mobile phones. 

This campaign poses the question to people, 'Where is?' their personal property to remind them to take care of their valuables when out and about.

Posters should be displayed in highly visible areas, such as café and hotel entrances, outdoor dining areas and amenities to maximise the visual reminders to customers. 

To obtain posters for your business contact your Local Service Area Crime Prevention Section.

A limited edition 'historic police bear' is now on sale as part of SAPOL's commemorations for 175 years of policing in South Australia.

Dressed in the original 1838 uniform of the day, the bear is available for $50 (plus postage).

All profits from the sales will go to SA Police Legacy, which helps the families of any SAPOL officer who dies either while in service or in retirement.

The historic bears are available from all branches of Police Credit Union, the South Australian Police Historical Society and the Police Legacy office (telephone 8232 5513).

With only 500 available, they are sure to sell out quickly.

For keen arctophiles (those who collect teddy bears) Police Legacy also has the new SAPOL bear available for sale.

Dressed in the new dark blue uniform, the bear can be yours for just $30.

Either bear will ensure that your next teddy bears' picnic will be a safe and peaceful event.

On Sunday, 28 April SAPOL commemorated 175 years of policing in South Australia with an Open Day at the Police Academy.

Around 5,000 people enjoyed the event, which showcased the new Police Academy training facility and featured community engagement and displays from a diverse range of SAPOL areas demonstrating their role within the organisation and value to South Australia.

A major highlight of the Open Day was the Foundation Day Ceremony which tracked the development of SAPOL over the past 175 years and included a re-enactment of the swearing in of South Australia's inaugural 20 police officers in 1838.

The popular Open Day was a highly successful follow-up to the commemorative street parade, which enthralled onlookers in the city on Friday, 26 April. View photos here.

These events are just the start of a year of festivities to be held throughout the state as SAPOL commemorates 175 years of service to the community. To further whet the appetite for police history, SA Police News is publishing a number of historic policing stories sourced from the South Australian Historical Society. The first instalment is available here.

The Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers (SHDP) project is a South Australia Police (SAPOL) corporate initiative to combat property crime through legislative and regulatory change. To support this initiative, SAPOL has identified the need for legislative reform in the areas of licensing and regulation of the second-hand and pawnbroker industry.

Public consultation regarding the proposed Second-hand Goods Bill was conducted by South Australia Police (SAPOL) Second-hand Dealers project team between 30 April and 28 of May 2011.

A report summarising the consultation process as well as significant submissions received from industry groups and interested persons has been prepared by the SAPOL project team, a copy of which is now available for information and downloading.

Read more

'How will you be leaving the store today?'

The aim of the Shop Theft Prevention initiative is to engage potential shop theft offenders by causing them to rethink their behaviour.

The poster is designed to be displayed in highly visible areas, such as entrances, change rooms and point of sales in any retail business. This will assist to maximise the opportunity to prevent shop theft crime.

The shop theft crime prevention posters are available through Local Service Area Crime Prevention Sections.

The latest edition of SAPOL's magazine, Blueprint (PDF 9.3MB), is out now.

In this edition you can read stories about our people, their achievements and key issues affecting SAPOL including:

• Cracking the code of cybercrime
• SAPOL feels The Force of reality television
• A positive report card for the Schoolies Festival
• Mounted Operations Unit harnessing their strengths
• The sobering reality of alcohol-fuelled violence
• Dog Operations Unit - new puppies to collar criminals
• Charging to Prosecution Project - a strong case for reform
• The community warms to Summer Safety
• Getting a kick out of sport with the South Australia Police Sports Federation
• Achieving a degree of success with the Bachelor of Management (Policing)

OPENING OF THE NEW ROAD SAFETY CENTRE

Since the opening of the Road Safety School at Port Road, Thebarton in 1964, South Australia Police (SAPOL) has been at the forefront of road safety education in South Australia. During its 47 years of operation, the school provided over 500,000 students with a positive interaction with police as they learned about using our road systems safely.

Now, a new generation of young South Australians will have the chance to enjoy a similar experience, with a new SAPOL Road Safety Centre officially opened on Monday, 25 February 2013.

Located at Port Road, Thebarton, the modern $3.55 million centre will be the first of its type operated by police within Australia. It incorporates a mock roadway located within Bonython Park (built in co-operation with the Adelaide City Council), which will be open for use by the public on weekends and public holidays when not required by SAPOL.

Apart from the 10,000 children expected to use the facility each year, for the first time road safety presentations will be provided at the centre for other groups including secondary school students, businesses, special interest groups, community groups and older-aged road users. This approach supports SAPOL's concept of road safety education being a lifelong learning process.

The opening of the Road Safety Centre also heralds a new partnership between SAPOL and the iconic Humphrey B Bear. Every group of children coming through the Centre will now see a road safety Humphrey B Bear DVD where Humphrey, with the help of SAPOL personnel and friends, reinforces cycling road safety messages.

Bookings for road safety education can be made by telephoning 8207 4668.

Read more at SA Police News.

OFFICIAL OPENING OF MURRAY BRIDGE POLICE STATION

The new Murray Bridge Police station was officially opened at a special ceremony today by Commissioner Gary Burns and the Minister for Police, the Hon. Michael O'Brien MP.

Replacing the original station built in 1884, the new environmentally sustainable building is now the headquarter station for Murray Mallee Local Service Area. It provides the rapidly growing local population with access to the full range of policing services and offers a safer environment for staff and prisoners, with an integrated security and CCTV system for advanced custody management.

The $12.5m purpose built facility allows operational and support policing units to work together, so supervision, operational issues, emergency management, prisoner management, property storage, equipment storage and security all interact efficiently.

"The new station will provide 24/7 services to the area and will meet the needs and expectations of the local community, in a way the former police station was no longer equipped to do," said Assistant Police Commissioner Neil Smith.

Read more at SA Police News.

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Commissioner of Police Gary Burns has released the South Australia Police (SAPOL) Strategic Direction 2012 - 2015. The Strategic Direction 2012 - 2015 is the guiding document for the delivery of policing services to the community with the SAPOL Vision to provide "A visible, responsive police service for all South Australians".

The Strategic Direction has eight main goals, as the key elements of a visible and responsive police service. It describes how these goals will be achieved, through four main areas of focus. These target police visibility and availability, community contact, engagement with our people and innovation to maximize effectiveness and responsiveness.

Read more about the South Australia Police Strategic Direction 2012 - 2015.

IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC ROAD RULES UP-TO-DATE?

Breaking basic road rules contributes to thousands of avoidable crashes in South Australia resulting in injuries and fatalities every year.

The Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has launched a road rules refresher page on the mylicence.sa.gov.au website. The road rules refresher can help make you aware of gaps or misunderstandings in your road rules knowledge. It looks at everything from giving way, overtaking, roundabouts, U-turns, merging and more and features online video clips showing the road rules in action as well as a quiz.

You can use the free, easy to use tools available on this page to refresh your basic road rules knowledge and be a smarter, safer driver.

Road rules are developed for your safety. Make sure you know and follow the road rules at all times.

Following extensive consultation, including the preparation of a Regional Impact Assessment Statement, the Narrung Police Station was officially closed on 21 December 2012.

Policing services to the Narrung community and surrounding district pastoral properties are now served by the Meningie, Tailem Bend and Murray Bridge police stations.

For contact details on these police stations, please visit the Country Police Stations page.