❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister for Police on how additional police officers can be delivered with a small budget increase. The Minister responds by highlighting significant investments in police resources and technology.
AnsweredQoN 547Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — CRIME STATISTICS
547. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that recurrent expenditure on police has increased by only 0.8 per cent
this financial year, how does the minister expect to deliver additional police
officers unless he intends to cut services in other areas?
547. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that recurrent expenditure on police has increased by only 0.8 per cent
this financial year, how does the minister expect to deliver additional police
officers unless he intends to cut services in other areas?
AnswerView source ↗
I appreciate the opportunity to
refer to the budget. Recently, including during our last term in office, we
increased the WA Police Force budget by $1.006 billion. That is a more than $1
billion increase. The Premier is looking at me.
I try to keep it under wraps and avoid too much discussion about the increase
in the police budget, but it has been significant. Madam Speaker was
probably responsible for a large amount of that increase! Some of the
capabilities that have been introduced into the Western Australian police as a result
of the increase in the budget include $19.2 million for body armour for every
frontline police officer. Around the state, every single one of our police
officers is protected by that equipment. It also includes $24.7 million for
body-worn cameras and $51.46 million for
digital mobility. Every single police officer now has a mobile phone with apps
to access intelligence databases that they have never had before. That is an
incredible improvement in their capability. We budgeted $54 million for two new
police helicopters. One of them was budgeted for in this budget and one in the
last budget, which seems to have escaped the member's attention.
We have provided $1.3 million for a new drone fleet. Every district in the
state has at least two drones and four drone
operators. All across the state we now have the capability to provide
assistance through drones that were never there before under the member's
government. We provided $166.7 million for the meth border force initiative and
new state-of-the-art drug detection equipment and $16.7 million for automatic
numberplate recognition. That
wonderful technology is rolling out around the state and we are looking at
getting more all the time. If I were the member, I would not go to the
financing or resourcing of police, because it is not his strong suit.
refer to the budget. Recently, including during our last term in office, we
increased the WA Police Force budget by $1.006 billion. That is a more than $1
billion increase. The Premier is looking at me.
I try to keep it under wraps and avoid too much discussion about the increase
in the police budget, but it has been significant. Madam Speaker was
probably responsible for a large amount of that increase! Some of the
capabilities that have been introduced into the Western Australian police as a result
of the increase in the budget include $19.2 million for body armour for every
frontline police officer. Around the state, every single one of our police
officers is protected by that equipment. It also includes $24.7 million for
body-worn cameras and $51.46 million for
digital mobility. Every single police officer now has a mobile phone with apps
to access intelligence databases that they have never had before. That is an
incredible improvement in their capability. We budgeted $54 million for two new
police helicopters. One of them was budgeted for in this budget and one in the
last budget, which seems to have escaped the member's attention.
We have provided $1.3 million for a new drone fleet. Every district in the
state has at least two drones and four drone
operators. All across the state we now have the capability to provide
assistance through drones that were never there before under the member's
government. We provided $166.7 million for the meth border force initiative and
new state-of-the-art drug detection equipment and $16.7 million for automatic
numberplate recognition. That
wonderful technology is rolling out around the state and we are looking at
getting more all the time. If I were the member, I would not go to the
financing or resourcing of police, because it is not his strong suit.
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