Canberra's cops are focused on taking the "sting out of the tail" of petty incidents this festive season, as tensions run high and locals risk fronting court.
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![ACT Ambulance Service paramedic John Berry and ACT Fire and Rescue commander Matthew Shonk, who are urging Canberrans to look out for each other this festive season. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong ACT Ambulance Service paramedic John Berry and ACT Fire and Rescue commander Matthew Shonk, who are urging Canberrans to look out for each other this festive season. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc786iwlkb2sgh9x298ds.jpg/r0_0_5338_3523_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Officers say they've been called to shopping centres to settle disputes over stolen car park spaces; something that would otherwise be an annoyance, but could snowball into a legal situation at Christmas.
Detective Sergeant Elizabeth Swain, who is based at Canberra City Police Station, said a big part of the job from December through January was quelling emotions in a time of high stress.
"[We] try to get there, navigate people through [the fact] there'll be another park, [and urge] everybody to calm down and move on - before someone does something that will have some kind of consequence to their life," Detective Sergeant Swain said.
"It can be a bump rather than a hurdle."
Incidents related to family stress also increased during the festive season, Detective Sergeant Swain said.
![ACT Policing First Constable Nicholas Bannan and Detective Sergeant Elizabeth Swain. They have been called to incidents at Christmas that people normally wouldn't escalate. Picture: Cassandra Morgan ACT Policing First Constable Nicholas Bannan and Detective Sergeant Elizabeth Swain. They have been called to incidents at Christmas that people normally wouldn't escalate. Picture: Cassandra Morgan](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc78gu5om7cr794xcp8cj.jpg/r0_0_4032_3024_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
First Constable Nicholas Bannan, who was also based at city station, urged Canberrans to "take a breath" and remember "everyone is fighting their own battles" during Christmas. As the city filled up for celebrations, it was also important not to over-indulge, Constable Bannan said.
"We find [for] some people, it's the end of the year, so they relax and [might lose their inhibitions] and drink in excess," he said.
"People just need to watch out for themselves and watch out for each other."
The Emergency Services Agency reiterated the officers' calls for caring attitudes - especially during such a manic fire season. ACT Ambulance Service intensive care paramedic, John Berry, said neighbours should check in with each other regularly.
"The heat especially affects our young [people], elderly [people], and pregnant ladies," Mr Berry said.
"If you have those people around you, knock on a neighbour's door, check to see they're ok and how they're going."
ACT Fire and Rescue Commander, Matthew Shonk, said Canberrans were "getting better" at looking out for others.
"Canberra is really maturing as a community and it has taken a bit of time, but I think we are most definitely improving in that space," Commander Shonk said.
"Some of it's due to what the government has done in trying to encourage that, and some of it's just a natural progression towards a more settled city."
Both ACT Policing and the Emergency Services Agency held staff Christmas celebrations to keep morale high over the festive season, the first responders said. Mental health was addressed all year round.
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Detective Sergeant Swain said policing's roster was done so people would be able to spend some part of Christmas Day with their family; whether it be the morning, afternoon, or evening.
Constable Bannan said concessions were sometimes made for officers with children.
"[We try to] give them a bit of a chance to spend time with their families because they only get that one time to spend that year's Christmas with their kid," Constable Bannan said.
"For [other] people, it can be hard because they might have moved here for work, [or] they might have family somewhere else."
Detective Sergeant Swain said officers would always approach their colleagues and help them get out of a "funk" if they needed it.