NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione's unfinished business with ice, domestic violence
Updated
Andrew Scipione is one of the longest serving police chiefs in New South Wales and his time in the top job has coincided with some of the most tumultuous events in the state's history.
He took office in 2007, just two years after racial tensions exploded into the Cronulla riots in Sydney's south.
He also oversaw the security operation for APEC and he has seen terrorism evolve into an ever-present threat.
So, what have been the toughest moments for the outgoing Commissioner? And if he had his time over, what would he change?
What would he do differently?
Mr Scipione is the first to admit his work is not done when it comes to the skyrocketing rates of domestic violence.
Crime rates have fallen to record lows under his watch, but he said too many women were still dying at the hands of their partners.
"I'm still not satisfied that we've got this whole domestic violence thing right," he said.
"These are the people we supposedly love and cherish more than anyone and yet we're killing each other."
He also said he would double the police force's efforts to combat the scourge of ice and its role in violent crime.
"We can continue to enforce laws, we can make enormous seizures and we can run wonderful operations," he said.
"But until demand goes, we're going to have a problem."
The one issue that has defined Mr Scipione's tenure as Commissioner more than any other is simple: "In terms of coming thick and fast ... it's terrorism," he said.
"The other thing we've seen explode is cybercrime ... it's such a big part of what we're doing and it's just growing.
"Within 10 years I'd say almost every crime we deal with will have a cyber element or a technology enabled element in there somewhere so that's going to reshape modern law enforcement."
His most difficult moment as Commissioner?
Mr Scipione has readily shouldered the responsibility to keep the people of NSW safe, and says that as Commissioner, the buck stops with him.
But the deaths of police officers like Inspector Bryson Anderson and Senior Constable David Rixon, and accountant Curtis Cheng, hit him hard.
"[Those situations] were really tough," he said.
"They were tough on the force, they were tough on the community and they were tough on me."
So how does he manage the fear knowing something awful could happen?
The committed Christian said he did not let fear control him or allow it to steal his common sense.
"If fear crippled police they wouldn't go into too many darkened situations where there is a risk of being injured or killed," he said.
The tactical police who stormed the Lindt Cafe during the Sydney siege in 2014 faced a very real risk of being injured or killed.
But Mr Scipione said they did not hesitate.
"I was very proud of those men that went through that door," he said.
"I will be limited in terms of what I can say ... but it touched my heart and it touched a nation."
Who should be the next commissioner?
Mr Scipione has deflected this question, stating the decision to appoint the next Commissioner lies with the NSW Government and not him.
But he believes the successful candidate should come from within.
"This organisation is stuffed full of very capable people," he said.
"And I'm sure that from within our ranks we will find a fine commissioner."
Exactly who the next commissioner is due to be announced within a fortnight.
Topics: police, crime, terrorism, domestic-violence, sydney-2000, nsw
First posted
