❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding police resources, staffing, station hours, response times, and plans for increased demand due to the new Perth-Mandurah rail line in the South Metropolitan Police District.
AnsweredQoN 2487Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(ii) 2002; (iii) 2003; (iv) 2004; (v) 2005; (vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(iii) 2003; (iv) 2004; (v) 2005; (vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(iv) 2004; (v) 2005; (vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(v) 2005; (vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(vii) 2007;
(c) what specific hours are the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station manned each day; (d) what is the current ratio of police officers to population for the South Metropolitan Police District and how does that ratio compare with the North Metropolitan Police District; (e) given that the Kennedy Royal Commission Final Report identified several areas of policing as not meeting the community’s expectations for basic policing services, including call-taking, response times and tackling volume crimes such as burglary, anti-social behaviour, assaults and disorderly conduct, what specific measures have been implemented at the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station under the new Frontline First Program; (f) what are the current average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District for all categories of reported crime; (g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(d) what is the current ratio of police officers to population for the South Metropolitan Police District and how does that ratio compare with the North Metropolitan Police District; (e) given that the Kennedy Royal Commission Final Report identified several areas of policing as not meeting the community’s expectations for basic policing services, including call-taking, response times and tackling volume crimes such as burglary, anti-social behaviour, assaults and disorderly conduct, what specific measures have been implemented at the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station under the new Frontline First Program; (f) what are the current average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District for all categories of reported crime; (g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(e) given that the Kennedy Royal Commission Final Report identified several areas of policing as not meeting the community’s expectations for basic policing services, including call-taking, response times and tackling volume crimes such as burglary, anti-social behaviour, assaults and disorderly conduct, what specific measures have been implemented at the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station under the new Frontline First Program; (f) what are the current average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District for all categories of reported crime; (g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(f) what are the current average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District for all categories of reported crime; (g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(iii) 2003; (iv) 2004; (v) 2005; (vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(iv) 2004; (v) 2005; (vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(v) 2005; (vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(vi) 2006; and (vii) 2007;
(vii) 2007;
(c) what specific hours are the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station manned each day; (d) what is the current ratio of police officers to population for the South Metropolitan Police District and how does that ratio compare with the North Metropolitan Police District; (e) given that the Kennedy Royal Commission Final Report identified several areas of policing as not meeting the community’s expectations for basic policing services, including call-taking, response times and tackling volume crimes such as burglary, anti-social behaviour, assaults and disorderly conduct, what specific measures have been implemented at the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station under the new Frontline First Program; (f) what are the current average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District for all categories of reported crime; (g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(d) what is the current ratio of police officers to population for the South Metropolitan Police District and how does that ratio compare with the North Metropolitan Police District; (e) given that the Kennedy Royal Commission Final Report identified several areas of policing as not meeting the community’s expectations for basic policing services, including call-taking, response times and tackling volume crimes such as burglary, anti-social behaviour, assaults and disorderly conduct, what specific measures have been implemented at the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station under the new Frontline First Program; (f) what are the current average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District for all categories of reported crime; (g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(e) given that the Kennedy Royal Commission Final Report identified several areas of policing as not meeting the community’s expectations for basic policing services, including call-taking, response times and tackling volume crimes such as burglary, anti-social behaviour, assaults and disorderly conduct, what specific measures have been implemented at the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station under the new Frontline First Program; (f) what are the current average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District for all categories of reported crime; (g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(f) what are the current average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District for all categories of reported crime; (g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(g) is the police station at Garden City Shopping Centre in Booragoon still operational and, if so, what hours is it open, how many staff are working from that office and what policing issues do they respond to; and (h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
(h) what plans have been put in place, or are being considered for, the Palmyra Police Station, the Murdoch Police Station and the Fremantle Police Station to respond to additional crime issues as a result of the upcoming opening of the new Perth to Mandurah rail line?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 August 2007
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
56 days
(a) The actual full time equivalents (FTE) for the South Metropolitan District for the years 2001 to 2007 are outlined below.
SOUTH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT as at date
Police Officer Actual Strength (FTE)
1
Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer Actual Strength (FTE)
1
Total Actual Strength (FTE)
1
30 June 2001
381
4
385
30 June 2002
373
6
379
30 June 2003
371
4
375
30 June 2004
372
6
378
30 June 2005
376
7
383
30 June 2006
374
3
377
31 May 2007
365
3
368
1
Actual Strength (FTEs) includes employees on leave without pay. This figure does not include officers in training at the Police Academy.
Over the time period covered in the above table the allocation of FTE to individual Districts and between Regions has been regularly reviewed to ensure the maximisation of available Police Officer FTE.
In addition, there have been a number of structural and boundary reviews. As a result, the actual strength for the South Metropolitan District may vary from year to year. As at 31 May 2007 there are 188 FTE undergoing Police Officer training at the WA Police Academy.
(b)
Due to operational sensitivities specific information relating to staffing levels of individual police stations is not released. Resources are principally allocated at a District level and District Superintendents deploy these resources within their District to provide the best possible policing service to meet operational requirements and the varying needs of the community.
(c) The South Metropolitan District has officers available 24 hours a day to attend to tasks, supported by other units within the Western Australia Police, such as Regional Operations Group, Major Incident Group and other specialist units.
Palmyra and Murdoch Police stations are open to the public between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday. However, there is also a communications button at the front door of each station, which gives access to Police Communications, who can, subject to the urgency of the complaint, call tasking vehicles to the station. Fremantle Police Station is open to the public at all times.
(d) The table below shows the Estimated Resident Population as at June 2006, Police Officer Actual Strength as at 31 May 2007, and Police Officer to Population Ratio by District (Police Officer : persons) for South Metropolitan District and Combined Metropolitan Police Districts. There is no North Metropolitan Police District; the overall figures have been added for comparison.
District
Estimated Resident Population
Police Officer Actual Strength (FTE)
Police Officer to Population Ratio
South Metropolitan District
323,673
368.0
1:880
Metropolitan Districts
1,494,740
1,899.0
1:787
The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) for WA Police Districts has been derived from Local Government Area (LGA) ERP published in Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Population Growth 2005-06 (ABS Cat No. 3218.0) based on a "best fit" of police district boundaries to LGA boundaries.
The population estimates relate to usual residents and do not reflect the fluctuations caused at various times by "visitors" associated with entertainment, employment, recreation, shopping and tourism.
(e) WA Police have centrally located resources such as the Regional Operations Group, the Traffic Enforcement Group and the Major Incident Group that are tasked to support Districts as required. The number of police officers allocated to a District is not an absolute indicator of WA Police's ability to respond to demand for police services. The Police Metropolitan Radio Network and Police Assistance Centre are further examples of initiatives impacting positively on service delivery and improvement to resource deployment.
Frontline First Initiatives in the South Metropolitan District
During the past 12 months, South Metropolitan District has actively pursued the Frontline First philosophy aimed at creating a safer and more secure Western Australia. This is done primarily from a District perspective. Changes have been made to rostering practises to enable more police to be on the street.
Additionally there has been movement of staff across the District to respond to areas of concern. Police have been focussing on dealing with volume crime and anti-social behaviour. Flexibility has been a major component of the change.
There are a range of operational tactics that have been implemented to better deter and respond to incidents of volume crime and anti-social behaviour.
During the past 12 months
1
, there has been a significant decrease of 7.9% in total property related crime
2
in the District. This equates to 2,597 less reported offences. Significantly reported burglary offences have decreased by 9.6%.
The clearance rate for property related crime across the District is 20.9% up from 18.4% last year.
For the entire District, offences against the person are up by 8.7% when compared with last year. This is primarily due to an increase in reported domestic related assaults (54% of the 358 additional offences against the person in 2006-07 were domestic related assaults).
Fremantle Police Station
As a response to anti-social behaviour, Fremantle Police have implemented a CBD Team that addresses issues of anti-social behaviour and street crime in the Fremantle CBD. This has transposed into a net reduction in reported assaults in the Fremantle Sub-District (9.1% reduction in 2006-07). Total property offences are down by 6.2%. Significantly, burglaries are down by 27%. Total property crime clearance rates have increased from 14.4% to 15.5%.
Palmyra Police Station
Additional staff has been placed at Palmyra, which includes detectives seconded from Fremantle. Total property offences are down by 2.7%. Significantly, burglaries are down by 13.8% and robberies are down by 40%.
Murdoch Police Station
Total property offences are down by 7.7%. Significantly, burglaries are down by 5.8% and robberies are down by 20.5%. Total property crime clearance rates have increased from 16.5% to 20.4%.
(f) For the June Quarter 2007 the average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District are:
§ Priority 1 and 2 tasks is 9 minutes
§ Priority 3 tasks is 23 minutes
(g) The Garden City Police Post is operational and is manned from Murdoch Police Station. The Police Post is open from 8.00am to 4.00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and from 2.00pm to 10.00pm on Thursday.
Garden City Police Post staffs are responsible for proactive patrols of the shopping centre and responding to crime issues within the shopping centre.
(h) The Southern Rail Transit Unit has been established to monitor and respond to crime issues that may arise as the result of the Perth to Mandurah Rail Line. The unit consists of 50 staff and will be based in Rockingham.
These 50 officers are additional to those in the South Metropolitan District. Officers from the Southern Rail Transit Unit and South Metropolitan District can mutually assist with crime on the rail line or areas that are adjacent.
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SOUTH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT as at date
Police Officer Actual Strength (FTE)
1
Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer Actual Strength (FTE)
1
Total Actual Strength (FTE)
1
30 June 2001
381
4
385
30 June 2002
373
6
379
30 June 2003
371
4
375
30 June 2004
372
6
378
30 June 2005
376
7
383
30 June 2006
374
3
377
31 May 2007
365
3
368
1
Actual Strength (FTEs) includes employees on leave without pay. This figure does not include officers in training at the Police Academy.
Over the time period covered in the above table the allocation of FTE to individual Districts and between Regions has been regularly reviewed to ensure the maximisation of available Police Officer FTE.
In addition, there have been a number of structural and boundary reviews. As a result, the actual strength for the South Metropolitan District may vary from year to year. As at 31 May 2007 there are 188 FTE undergoing Police Officer training at the WA Police Academy.
(b)
Due to operational sensitivities specific information relating to staffing levels of individual police stations is not released. Resources are principally allocated at a District level and District Superintendents deploy these resources within their District to provide the best possible policing service to meet operational requirements and the varying needs of the community.
(c) The South Metropolitan District has officers available 24 hours a day to attend to tasks, supported by other units within the Western Australia Police, such as Regional Operations Group, Major Incident Group and other specialist units.
Palmyra and Murdoch Police stations are open to the public between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday. However, there is also a communications button at the front door of each station, which gives access to Police Communications, who can, subject to the urgency of the complaint, call tasking vehicles to the station. Fremantle Police Station is open to the public at all times.
(d) The table below shows the Estimated Resident Population as at June 2006, Police Officer Actual Strength as at 31 May 2007, and Police Officer to Population Ratio by District (Police Officer : persons) for South Metropolitan District and Combined Metropolitan Police Districts. There is no North Metropolitan Police District; the overall figures have been added for comparison.
District
Estimated Resident Population
Police Officer Actual Strength (FTE)
Police Officer to Population Ratio
South Metropolitan District
323,673
368.0
1:880
Metropolitan Districts
1,494,740
1,899.0
1:787
The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) for WA Police Districts has been derived from Local Government Area (LGA) ERP published in Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Population Growth 2005-06 (ABS Cat No. 3218.0) based on a "best fit" of police district boundaries to LGA boundaries.
The population estimates relate to usual residents and do not reflect the fluctuations caused at various times by "visitors" associated with entertainment, employment, recreation, shopping and tourism.
(e) WA Police have centrally located resources such as the Regional Operations Group, the Traffic Enforcement Group and the Major Incident Group that are tasked to support Districts as required. The number of police officers allocated to a District is not an absolute indicator of WA Police's ability to respond to demand for police services. The Police Metropolitan Radio Network and Police Assistance Centre are further examples of initiatives impacting positively on service delivery and improvement to resource deployment.
Frontline First Initiatives in the South Metropolitan District
During the past 12 months, South Metropolitan District has actively pursued the Frontline First philosophy aimed at creating a safer and more secure Western Australia. This is done primarily from a District perspective. Changes have been made to rostering practises to enable more police to be on the street.
Additionally there has been movement of staff across the District to respond to areas of concern. Police have been focussing on dealing with volume crime and anti-social behaviour. Flexibility has been a major component of the change.
There are a range of operational tactics that have been implemented to better deter and respond to incidents of volume crime and anti-social behaviour.
During the past 12 months
1
, there has been a significant decrease of 7.9% in total property related crime
2
in the District. This equates to 2,597 less reported offences. Significantly reported burglary offences have decreased by 9.6%.
The clearance rate for property related crime across the District is 20.9% up from 18.4% last year.
For the entire District, offences against the person are up by 8.7% when compared with last year. This is primarily due to an increase in reported domestic related assaults (54% of the 358 additional offences against the person in 2006-07 were domestic related assaults).
Fremantle Police Station
As a response to anti-social behaviour, Fremantle Police have implemented a CBD Team that addresses issues of anti-social behaviour and street crime in the Fremantle CBD. This has transposed into a net reduction in reported assaults in the Fremantle Sub-District (9.1% reduction in 2006-07). Total property offences are down by 6.2%. Significantly, burglaries are down by 27%. Total property crime clearance rates have increased from 14.4% to 15.5%.
Palmyra Police Station
Additional staff has been placed at Palmyra, which includes detectives seconded from Fremantle. Total property offences are down by 2.7%. Significantly, burglaries are down by 13.8% and robberies are down by 40%.
Murdoch Police Station
Total property offences are down by 7.7%. Significantly, burglaries are down by 5.8% and robberies are down by 20.5%. Total property crime clearance rates have increased from 16.5% to 20.4%.
(f) For the June Quarter 2007 the average response times for the South Metropolitan Police District are:
§ Priority 1 and 2 tasks is 9 minutes
§ Priority 3 tasks is 23 minutes
(g) The Garden City Police Post is operational and is manned from Murdoch Police Station. The Police Post is open from 8.00am to 4.00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and from 2.00pm to 10.00pm on Thursday.
Garden City Police Post staffs are responsible for proactive patrols of the shopping centre and responding to crime issues within the shopping centre.
(h) The Southern Rail Transit Unit has been established to monitor and respond to crime issues that may arise as the result of the Perth to Mandurah Rail Line. The unit consists of 50 staff and will be based in Rockingham.
These 50 officers are additional to those in the South Metropolitan District. Officers from the Southern Rail Transit Unit and South Metropolitan District can mutually assist with crime on the rail line or areas that are adjacent.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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