Month: October 2025

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking the public’s assistance to identify those responsible for the theft of the Sir Jospeh Banks memorial sculpture at the Australian National Botanic Gardens earlier this week.

Between 3pm and 3.25pm on Tuesday, 25 June 2024, the sculpture was taken from its plinth near the garden’s information kiosk.

The sculpture is made of brass, weighs approximately 25kgs and would not be easily concealed.

Police believe visitors to the gardens may have unknowingly captured the offenders in photos or videos and are urging anyone who was in the Botanic Gardens on Tuesday afternoon to review any pictures or dash-cam footage they may have taken. Police would also like to speak to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the gardens on Tuesday, 25 June.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference number 7783368. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses after a police vehicle was deliberately rammed by a white Toyota Prado 4WD yesterday in Waramanga.

Police first noticed the white Prado driving erratically at about 3.15pm yesterday (Monday, 15 July 2024) in Stirling before it was later sighted in Coombs and again in Weston. The vehicle was observed to be speeding, driving across greenbelt areas and ignoring intersections and police directions to stop.

About 3.35pm the Prado was sighted by police entering onto Hindmarsh Drive from Larakia Street, Waramanga where it immediately crossed all three lanes and drove onto the footpath. Two officers attempted to stop the driver of the Prado including using a taser through the open driver’s side window. These attempts were unsuccessful.

A marked police vehicle was positioned across Hindmarsh Drive to stop traffic and ensure the safety of the public. The Prado then reversed at speed, ramming into the front of the police vehicle. The Prado left the scene at speed, along a footpath towards McInnes Street.

Last night at 10.45pm, the Toyota Prado was located in Lyons on fire. It was extinguished by ACT Fire and Rescue.

Police are seeking any witnesses to yesterday’s incident, including any dashcam footage of the white Toyota Prado, between 3.00pm yesterday and 10.45pm last night.

Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote 7799654. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

Twenty-five drivers have been fined as a result of dashcam footage uploaded to ACT Policing’s online reporting portal since the program began in May.

In May this year, ACT Policing expanded its online reporting capability to include dangerous driving, providing the community with a new mechanism to report poor driver behaviour.

Importantly, this new functionality allows people to upload digital imagery illegal driving behaviour.

To date, 132 online dangerous driving reports have been received by ACT Policing with 25 drivers issued traffic infringement notices, 35 drivers issued cautions or warnings and six matters continue to be investigated.

Offences include not stopping at red lights, not giving way, tailgating, mobile phone offences, and careless driving.

Officer in Charge of Road Policing Acting Inspector Mark Richardson said dashcam footage has provided police with the ability to have eyes anywhere, anytime, and urged drivers to carefully consider this when getting behind the wheel.

“Gone are the days where police need to be right there to be able to fine drivers for offences they commit on our roads,” Acting Inspector Richardson said.

“By using modern technology, and public support to send in footage of driving offences they observe on our roads, police are now able to utilise this footage to ensure drivers are held to account at all times.

“While police are happy to see so many people are already using the online portal, we are very disappointed to see the volume of poor driving behaviour occurring daily.

“This serves as a reminder to those people who choose to put other drivers at risk through your actions, just because you can’t see police in sight – it does not mean that we can’t see you.

“We would also once again encourage members of the public to come forward with this kind of dashcam footage. Police will continue to investigate all matters of dangerous driving that are reported to us.”

To complete the online form, you must be able to provide video or photographic evidence of the driving offence you witnessed when requested by ACT Policing. You may also be required to provide a formal witness statement to police and attend court as a witness to confirm the information provided in your witness statement.

Police will support witnesses through the court process, noting that many matters are dealt with by police without proceeding to court.

ACT Policing’s online services portal can be accessed here.

Note for journalists: Broadcast quality video of the extradition can be downloaded from Hightail. (This link will expire in seven days).

Source: ACT Police

In two separate incidents on Saturday evening ACT Road Policing officers detected drivers speeding excessively and driving dangerously on Canberra roads.  

About 7.00 pm on Saturday (14 July 2024), officers detected a vehicle travelling at 133km/h in the posted 80km/h speed zone along Belconnen Way in Bruce.   

The vehicle was stopped and the driver was issued multiple infringement notices, including for speeding in excess of 45km/h over the speed limit. Their licence was immediately suspended for a period of 90 days. 

In a separate incident, a 17-year-old NSW resident will face multiple charges in both the ACT and NSW after they engaged in a series of dangerous cross border driving incidents.   

Shortly after 10:30pm on Saturday, NSW Police observed a silver Ford wagon (that had words spray painted on it and was in poor repair) driving dangerously through Queanbeyan. The vehicle failed to stop for NSW Police before entering the ACT where it was observed driving at excessive speed through multiple suburbs.  

About 10:50pm the Ford wagon lost control and struck a gutter at the intersection of Jim Pyke Avenue and Point Hut Road in Gordon before two occupants fled the vehicle and were apprehended by police.  

Police will allege that the 17-year-old driver, whose NSW provisional driver licence was already suspended, drove the vehicle in a dangerous manner. Other charges will relate to driving an unregistered and unsafely maintained vehicle and driving while licence suspended.  

The 17-year-old will face both ACT and NSW Courts at later date in relation to this incident.

ACT Policing and New South Wales continue to work closely in targeting antisocial driving. 

ACT Policing is reminding all drivers of their obligations towards road safety for themselves and others, and antisocial and dangerous driving behaviour will not be tolerated. Drivers who engage in dangerous driving, burnouts or street racing will be targeted and offenders will be put before the court.  

If you have evidence of dangerous driving behaviour you can submit it to ACT Policing via our online reporting page.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an alleged road rage incident in Campbell that occurred last week.

About 7.40am on Tuesday, 9 July 2024, a blue Audi A3 and a black MG HS were travelling east on Fairbairn Avenue, after the Creswell Street and Fairbairn Avenue roundabout.

As the two vehicles merged from two lanes to one, the driver of the MG allegedly began to tailgate the driver of the Audi and drive aggressively, following them to Campbell Park Offices.

At this time, the driver of the MG parked their vehicle next to the Audi, and allegedly banged on the window and verbally abused the driver, before taking off shortly after.

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the interactions between the two vehicles, or who may have dash-cam footage of the vehicles travelling on Fairbairn Avenue.

Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote 7794458. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

On Friday, 12 July 2024, a 94-year-old man was located deceased at Clare Holland House.

On 29 April 2024, the 94-year-old was sentenced by the ACT Supreme Court to a term of imprisonment for the murder of his wife in 2023. At the time of his death, he was a sentenced prisoner.

In April 2024, the man was transferred to a medical facility as he was suffering terminal cancer.

There are no suspicious circumstances in relation to his death, and police will submit a report to the Coroner.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing, the African Australian Advocacy Centre (AAAC), and the African Australian Council ACT (AACACT) met today to discuss community concerns in relation to a recent incident.

Representatives of Canberra’s diverse African communities and ACT Policing discussed how we can work together to improve relationships between the police and African people in Canberra.

As a result of these discussions, both community members and ACT Policing agreed that improving representation of African people within ACT Policing ranks, and of the broader AFP is a shared goal.

Additionally, it was agreed that we can start slowly by working together to give African communities opportunities to get to know their police better and how to raise issues of concern.

ACT Policing will also work with community to improve its cultural literacy, including through more regularly scheduled meetings, and the identification of training opportunities for police.

Deputy Chief Police Officer Doug Boudry said today was an opportunity to strengthen relationships between police and the African community, and ensure everyone was able to voice their concerns and be heard.

“This was an opportunity to explain to community the circumstances surrounding this incident, while also hearing and understanding their perspectives,” Deputy Chief Police Officer Boudry said.

“In hearing the communities’ concerns, I am confident we will learn and grow together, and it was particularly beneficial for us to learn more about the perspectives of African Australians when dealing with police.”

President of the AACACT Ms Yvette Poudjom Djomani noted that this was the first step in improving the relationships between police and the African community.

“We appreciate ACT Policing reaching out and taking the time to meet with us,” Poudjom Djomani said.

“This is a good first step in improving our mutual understanding and relationships.

“We want police and the broader community to understand the diversity of the Africans in Canberra and the positive contributions we make to society.”

Chair of the AAAC Noel Yandamutso Zhihabamwe emphasised that it was important to get together today, and that this was a productive meeting.

“African people in Australia feel like they are living under a siege of racism,” Yandamutso Zhihabamwe said.

“Having time to discuss our concerns with Doug today demonstrates that ACT Policing are committed to improving their understanding of our concerns and working with us.

“We look forward to the outcome of the review of this incident that is under way.”

Source: ACT Police

A 37-year-old man who was alleged to have committed family violence offences in 2021 has been extradited to the ACT to face court.

In March 2021 the man was alleged to have committed common assault, property damage, and take a motor vehicle without authority offences, with the victim being the man’s partner at the time.

The man was arrested the next day and received bail to appear at a later date. He failed to appear, and a warrant was issued for his arrest in February 2022.

He was subsequently charged in NSW with serious offences. He spent a significant period of time on remand for those offences and was then released on parole.

Op Pemberton (part of ACT Policing’s Family Violence Unit) liaised with NSW Police Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team and the 37-year-old was arrested on Thursday (11 July 2024) in Sydney.

His extradition was approved yesterday (Friday, 12 July 2024) and he was transported to Canberra.

He is scheduled to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court today (Saturday 13 July 2024) to face the existing charges from 2021 as well as charges relating to his failing to appear in court.

ACT Policing will continue to pursue all family violence offenders who flee interstate. Op Pemberton is liaising with its interstate partners to ensure anyone who has fled interstate is apprehended and brought before the court.

Note for journalists: Broadcast quality video of the extradition can be downloaded from Hightail. (This link will expire in seven days).

Source: ACT Police

A 79-year-old man has been extradited from Queensland and will face court today in relation to historic child sex offences.

Investigators from ACT Policing’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team will allege the man sexually assaulted a child known to him between 1987 and 1993.

The man was arrested on Wednesday (10 July 2024) by Queensland Police in Brisbane and was extradited to the ACT last night.

He will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Friday, 12 July 2024) charged with three counts of committing an act of indecency upon a person under the age of 16 and one count of incest.

There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences in the ACT and it is never too late to report.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, you can report to police by attending a police station or calling ACT Policing Communications on 131 444. You can also submit an online report for historical sexual assault for incidents that occurred more than six months ago.

The ACT Policing website has a dedicated section for victims of sexual assault, with information and a range of advice and details of support options.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing has confirmed details of a second vehicle believed to have picked up two people involved in a fatal collision on Adelaide Avenue in April, 2024.

About 4.55am on Wednesday, 17 April 2024, police and emergency services were called to Adelaide Avenue, near State Circle, after a white Toyota Camry left the roadway, collided with a concrete barrier, and was subsequently located on its roof in the middle of the road.

One occupant, a 15-year-old boy, was ejected from the vehicle and was transported to hospital. He later died from his injuries.

Following a call to identify two occupants and a second vehicle last month, police can today confirm a stolen black Genesis GV80 SUV is believed to have picked up the two people from the collision scene soon after the incident occurred.

The stolen Genesis GV80 was located partially burnt out in Theodore on the same day as the fatal collision.

Forensic testing of both the Camry and the Genesis has led investigators to conclude that the deceased was not driving the Camry at the time of the fatal collision, and that one of the two people picked up by the Genesis was the driver of the Camry.

Detective Sergeant Jonathon Turkich from ACT Policing’s Major Collision Team said police were closing in on the two people believed to have survived the April collision.

“The information gathered by our investigative team is leading us towards two particular suspects,” Detective Sergeant Turkich said.

“To those people, I would say now is the time to come forward and take responsibility for your involvement in this tragic incident.

“I understand it is difficult, it must be incredibly stressful to live in fear around your involvement in the death of someone you likely knew as a friend.

“But make no mistake, this will not be going away.”

ACT Policing is renewing calls for the two people who were in the Camry when it collided with the wall to come forward. Police are also seeking anyone who saw the Genesis SUV on the morning of 17 April, 2024 to contact Crime Stoppers.

Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote 7726381. Information can be provided anonymously.