❓ Hon Philip Scott questions the Minister for Police regarding an automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) trial at Westfield Carousel, focusing on data retention and transparency. The Minister provides basic details and relies on the Police Commissioner's word and existing record-keeping practices.
AnsweredQoN 1160Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Police—Automatic numberplate
recognition trial
1160. Hon Philip Scott to
the minister representing the Minister for Police:
I rise in relation
to the recent news that WA police are involved in a numberplate recognition
trial at Westfield Carousel Shopping Centre.
(1) ABC news reported a deal has been inked
between the owners of Westfield and WA police for this trial. Can the minister
table the details of this deal, and, if not, why not?
(2) On what date did the trial begin and when will
it finish?
(3) Commissioner of Police, Col Blanch, stated
police will keep the numberplate data for 12 months before deleting it. Can the
minister provide proof that this will occur beyond the word of the police
commissioner?
(4) The police commissioner also stated that
police are not interested "in people's data that have no interaction with
police whatsoever". If this is the case, why will the police retain all
numberplate data for 12 months?
recognition trial
1160. Hon Philip Scott to
the minister representing the Minister for Police:
I rise in relation
to the recent news that WA police are involved in a numberplate recognition
trial at Westfield Carousel Shopping Centre.
(1) ABC news reported a deal has been inked
between the owners of Westfield and WA police for this trial. Can the minister
table the details of this deal, and, if not, why not?
(2) On what date did the trial begin and when will
it finish?
(3) Commissioner of Police, Col Blanch, stated
police will keep the numberplate data for 12 months before deleting it. Can the
minister provide proof that this will occur beyond the word of the police
commissioner?
(4) The police commissioner also stated that
police are not interested "in people's data that have no interaction with
police whatsoever". If this is the case, why will the police retain all
numberplate data for 12 months?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Police.
(1) WA Police Force is trialling the use of automatic
numberplate recognition (ANPR) cameras at the Westfield Carousel Shopping
Centre.
(2) The trial began on 29 July 2025 and will
conclude on 29 January 2026.
(3) The Minister for Police trusts the word of the
Commissioner of Police. The WA Police Force maintains its records in accordance
with the State Records Act 2000 and the
Western Australia Police Force recordkeeping plan, which is approved by the
State Records Office.
(4) Incidents can be reported to the WA Police
Force weeks or even months after they occur. The value of ANPR data may not be
realised until a period after its initial capture.
for the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Police.
(1) WA Police Force is trialling the use of automatic
numberplate recognition (ANPR) cameras at the Westfield Carousel Shopping
Centre.
(2) The trial began on 29 July 2025 and will
conclude on 29 January 2026.
(3) The Minister for Police trusts the word of the
Commissioner of Police. The WA Police Force maintains its records in accordance
with the State Records Act 2000 and the
Western Australia Police Force recordkeeping plan, which is approved by the
State Records Office.
(4) Incidents can be reported to the WA Police
Force weeks or even months after they occur. The value of ANPR data may not be
realised until a period after its initial capture.
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