❓ A parliamentary question regarding police staffing levels in WA, highlighting discrepancies between authorised and actual strength in various districts, and the Minister's response emphasizing overall strength and deployment strategy.
AnsweredQoN 363Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Notwithstanding the fact that the Government has reduced the authorised strength of every single policing district in the State, how can the minister explain the fact that 12 of the 414 districts, as at 31 March this year, were still operating below their authorised strength? I refer to the central metropolitan district, which should have 435 officers but has only 418; the east metropolitan district, which should have 226 but has only 223; the south east metropolitan district, which should have 410 but has only 403; the south metropolitan district, which should have 380 police but has only 375; the great southern district, which should have 162 but has only 158; the Peel district, which should have 118 but has only 117; the south west district, which should have 209 police officers but has only 204; the wheatbelt district, which should have 144 officers but has only 139; the goldfields-Esperance district, which should have 192 officers but has only 184; the Kimberley district, which should have 121 officers but has only 115; the mid west-Gascoyne district, which should have 186 officers but has only 175; and, the Pilbara district, which should have 155 police officers according to its authorised strength but has only 149. Minister, are you a failure? The SPEAKER: The purpose of the question is to get information, not to impart information as the member is endeavouring to do with this particular style of question. The question has now reached the end of a lengthy citation of figures. I warn all members that that is not the way in which questions should be structured, and the member should make sure that that does not happen again in the future. Mr M.J. BIRNEY: I have finished my question and I look forward to the answer. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
The SPEAKER: The purpose of the question is to get information, not to impart information as the member is endeavouring to do with this particular style of question. The question has now reached the end of a lengthy citation of figures. I warn all members that that is not the way in which questions should be structured, and the member should make sure that that does not happen again in the future. Mr M.J. BIRNEY: I have finished my question and I look forward to the answer. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY: I have finished my question and I look forward to the answer. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
The SPEAKER: The purpose of the question is to get information, not to impart information as the member is endeavouring to do with this particular style of question. The question has now reached the end of a lengthy citation of figures. I warn all members that that is not the way in which questions should be structured, and the member should make sure that that does not happen again in the future. Mr M.J. BIRNEY: I have finished my question and I look forward to the answer. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY: I have finished my question and I look forward to the answer. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
It would seem that the member for Kalgoorlie was not listening when I gave the last answer. The Police Service is operating at well above authorised strength. The Commissioner of Police has a responsibility to deploy officers to areas of operational need. The Police Service has, over and above the districts, a number of specialised squads and units. The member has pointed out that some districts are very marginally under strength. Single stations were undermanned by more numbers when the Opposition was in government. There were times when the numbers at Kalgoorlie Police Station were down by as many as 15 officers when those opposite were in government. Those are the facts. There has been a markedly increased performance in the regions and in the metropolitan area. The Government has made sure that there is over and above the authorised strength for the Minister for Police to deploy. He deploys officers on a needs basis. Although some areas may be marginally under strength, other areas are operating over strength. Is the member asking me to direct the Commissioner of Police to staff to authorised strength because he has the numbers to do it? As has always been the case, and will always be the case, the Commissioner of Police must make that decision. This Government, unlike the former Government, has made sure that the Commissioner of Police has over and above the authorised strength for policing. We want to see people at the front-line and we want a commissioner who will deliver on the front-line for us.
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