London bombings
Phillip Williams - ABC 666 Interview with Chief Police Officer Audrey Fagan
Friday 8 July, 2005
Phillip Williams: Now, we have information coming through from London, that Euston Station is being evacuated; there is a security alert there. We hope there's nothing comes of that, but it does emphasise that people are on a high state of alert and a high state of nervousness. What are the lessons or what are the implications for the ACT? On the line is Audrey Fagan, ACT's Chief Police Officer who's only been in the job for five days. Audrey we were just talking a few days ago about one of your roles which is maintaining security and security intelligence, and now we've had this terrible event; what's it mean for Canberra?
Audrey Fagan: Good afternoon Phillip. It has meant a busy day for us, reinforcing our planning and preparedness at this point in these tragic events in London. Our heart goes out to the people over there, but at this time here in Canberra there is no specific threat nor intelligence to suggest ACT is a target of any specific activities around terrorism.
Phillip Williams: Of course we're not immune from that threat though and it must make all the security services like yours nervous.
Audrey Fagan: I wouldn't say nervous; this is what we train, prepare and are ready for. I was at an extraordinary meeting of the National Counter Terrorism Committee today. We've had meetings with Chief Minister's Department, Emergency Services Authority, ACTION who are involved our bus transport system and I can assure the Canberra people that we are prepared and we are operating at the same levels that we always were - medium level. There is no specific threat that we are aware of to suggest that the ACT needs to be feeling concerned.
Phillip Williams: Could we cope with a similar threat? With a number of attacks, obviously they wouldn't be on trains, but perhaps involving buses?
Audrey Fagan: Hypotheticals as they are, the exercises that we practice and have practiced in conjunction with all state and territories have us well and truly ready for anything that could occur in the future.
Phillip Williams: And yet I suppose for people watching those terrible images coming out of London, there is nervousness and perhaps it's a selfishness in a sense but we all think, well what about us, what about our community? How do you reassure people who are spooked I guess by the images coming across TV screens?
Audrey Fagan: I think the answer to that's threefold Phillip: I think to say first, I'm very happy with the way that the ACT has responded to those tragic events in London. I've already outlined the variety of meetings at a local, national and indeed our AFP resources internationally. So we're getting the information firsthand. The second thing that I'd suggest is that ACT Policing's preparedness has us standing ready; we have that training and we have that capability. The third thing is that if people in the community need to contact us, if there's anything that they're feeling insecure about, there's the National Security hotline, and there's Police Assistance - vigilance is ever important.
Phillip Williams: Do you have that number by any chance? We might as well give it out right now.
Audrey Fagan: The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400. I'll say that again: 1800 123 400.
Phillip Williams: And of course we are involved very much in terms of trying to assist the investigations and trying to learn from the London experience. I think the Prime Minister announced earlier today that there would be some AFP officers going over to London.
Audrey Fagan: That's correct Phillip. There's a joint effort there as well. It will be the AFP with particular resources around bomb data analysis, investigative and they will be accompanied by New South Wales, Victoria Police, and a member from the Department of Transport and Regional Safety.
Phillip Williams: And will they be going as fact finding or information gathering for use back here, or will they be going to actually assist the investigation in a material way?
Audrey Fagan: I haven't been involved in the direct liaison with the UK on that. The AFP's national side has been doing that, but they will be offering whatever assistance they can and of course they will come back with knowledge for us in our effort here.
Phillip Williams: Very much a two way street. Audrey Fagan, ACT Chief Police Officer, thank you very much for taking the time on what has been an extremely busy day for you.
Audrey Fagan: I appreciate it. Thank you Phillip.
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