❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Premier regarding the downgrading of Lynn Cannon's 000 call and the delayed police response in a domestic violence case. The Premier acknowledges the failings and ongoing investigations, expressing regret and offering condolences.
AnsweredQoN 602Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY —
LYNN CANNON
602. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the tragic family and
domestic violence murder of Lynn Cannon. Ms Cannon's 000 calls for help
were downgraded from level 2 priority to level 3 priority, even though she had
been threatened by her killer earlier that day, and it still took police more
than an hour to respond. Ms Cannon's family believes that she would still
be here if police had categorised her call appropriately and responded in the
target time frame. Why, when Lynn Cannon was threatened with a knife by her
ex-partner, was the priority downgraded?
LYNN CANNON
602. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the tragic family and
domestic violence murder of Lynn Cannon. Ms Cannon's 000 calls for help
were downgraded from level 2 priority to level 3 priority, even though she had
been threatened by her killer earlier that day, and it still took police more
than an hour to respond. Ms Cannon's family believes that she would still
be here if police had categorised her call appropriately and responded in the
target time frame. Why, when Lynn Cannon was threatened with a knife by her
ex-partner, was the priority downgraded?
AnswerView source ↗
These are complex situations, and it
really is not appropriate to seek to politicise them in the context of these
sorts of debates. It is important that members appreciate that a range of
factors that night led to the obviously difficult situation of the police not
being able to get there as soon as they would have liked. Those issues are
being discussed with the victim's family so they can have an
explanation about these things. I will not go over those issues, nor is it
appropriate to make them so public in this forum. I do not think we can do
justice to them. I can say that the whole community felt let down as a result
of that series of events. It was not good enough; the government has
acknowledged that and the Commissioner of Police has acknowledged that as well.
The police, through their inquiry—and,
ultimately, through a coroner's inquiry—will be able to make
investigations into that particular matter . They are ultimately
operational matters for the police to address, and we will expect them to do
so. Any death is difficult, Madam Speaker. It was remiss of me earlier to not
acknowledge that we had another firearms death in Kellerberrin just last week.
On behalf of the Parliament, I place on the record our deep regret and sadness
about that event. I am sure all our hearts go out to the victim of that
particular violent act and that victim's family.
really is not appropriate to seek to politicise them in the context of these
sorts of debates. It is important that members appreciate that a range of
factors that night led to the obviously difficult situation of the police not
being able to get there as soon as they would have liked. Those issues are
being discussed with the victim's family so they can have an
explanation about these things. I will not go over those issues, nor is it
appropriate to make them so public in this forum. I do not think we can do
justice to them. I can say that the whole community felt let down as a result
of that series of events. It was not good enough; the government has
acknowledged that and the Commissioner of Police has acknowledged that as well.
The police, through their inquiry—and,
ultimately, through a coroner's inquiry—will be able to make
investigations into that particular matter . They are ultimately
operational matters for the police to address, and we will expect them to do
so. Any death is difficult, Madam Speaker. It was remiss of me earlier to not
acknowledge that we had another firearms death in Kellerberrin just last week.
On behalf of the Parliament, I place on the record our deep regret and sadness
about that event. I am sure all our hearts go out to the victim of that
particular violent act and that victim's family.
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