SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens’ response to increased terror levels and petrol drive-offs

The state’s top cop has revealed police are actively making “some assessments” on the state’s major events after the national terror level was increased.

Police are actively making “some assessments” on the South Australia’s major events following the decision to increase the national terror level to probable.

It was announced on Monday that Australia’s terror threat level has been raised from possible to probable for the first time in a decade because of deteriorating social cohesion.

In response, Commissioner Grant Stevens revealed that high level discussions between police and community event planners are already being held to ensure safety.

However, Mr Stevens emphasised that none of the changes should be cause for alarm in South Australia.

Commissioner Grant Stevens reveals what police are doing about the increased terror level threat. Picture: Dean Martin

Instead, Mr Stevens advised people to adopt a higher level of awareness during community outings and when attending any events, rather than reconsidering their social plans entirely.

Meanwhile, SA Police continue liaising with major events organisers, including Adelaide Oval, and the coming Adelaide Royal Show, about the possibility of increasing police presence on the grounds.

“We’re doing some assessments,” Mr Stevens said on ABC Radio Adelaide on Wednesday morning. “Every single event is being assessed.”

“We already provide a strong police presence (at the show).

However, Mr Stevens said it would be impossible to detect threats until they were expressed either online, at rallies, events, or other actions.

“It’s impossible to determine what a person is thinking … until they start expressing that,” he said.

Police already have measures in place to target hate speech on social media, with Mr Stevens saying it is already being actively monitored, with police taking early intervention actions whenever they could.

Another issue Mr Stevens addressed was petrol thefts across South Australia.

An exasperated Mr Stevens said he was “digging down” over the issue of fuel drive-off thefts.

Stopping short of calling for legislative change, Mr Stevens said the number of fuel thefts being investigated had increased by 160 in the latest statistical release.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said he was “digging down” over the issue of fuel drive-off thefts. Picture: File

Mr Stevens has long called for the fuel retail industry to adopt prepaid bowsers to prevent the thefts, which would solve the problem “overnight”, he said.

He warned there “will come a time when we have to make a hard decision” on whether to dedicate police resources to fuel thefts or more serious offences – such as domestic violence prevention.

But he was “not at that point” of calling for legislative change just yet.

“There are steps we can take before talking about another piece of legislation.”

Mr Stevens lauded the results of a month-long Operation Storm that proactively assigned police resources to anti-domestic abuse.

Operation Storm led to 80 arrests in July, with police attending almost 400 addresses across the state, targeting 265 known offenders.

More than 400 police officers across all policing areas completed 46 bail compliance checks, charged people for 148 offences, and executed 21 warrants for various domestic abuse offences.

Eight firearms prohibition order compliance searches were conducted, 148 charges with 22 intervention orders served, as well as a stalking caution.

Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams last week said the goal of Operation Storm was to proactively identify domestic abuse offenders who pose a threat to victims and deter perpetrators through intensified intervention responses.

“Domestic abuse is always a priority for South Australia Police, with high-risk offenders being arrested quickly and, in most cases, we refuse bail to keep those offenders in custody,” she said.

Mr Stevens on Wednesday morning said the results demonstrated the value of “proactive policing” and consideration would be given to ensuring police resources were available for similar measures.