❓ Mr Hort questions police response times to electronic monitoring alerts in regional WA, citing concerns from the Police Union. The Minister assures instantaneous response, highlighting investment and monitoring systems.
AnsweredQoN 56Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Electronic monitoring
56. Mr Adam Hort to the Minister for Police:
My questions are to the Minister for Police, and they are
very specific questions. I refer to concerns raised by the Western Australian
Police Union on Monday about police officers becoming increasingly frustrated
with the Department of Justice's electronic monitoring program due to a lack of
resources and unnecessary delays.
(1)
How quickly is the Western Australia Police Force responding to alerts
generated from electronic monitoring in regional WA?
(2)
Is it true that, in some cases, it can take six to 12 hours or even longer for
police to respond to a breach?
(3)
Is it a core business of WA police to carry out routine maintenance of tracking
devices in regional areas, which commonly involves replacing flat batteries?
56. Mr Adam Hort to the Minister for Police:
My questions are to the Minister for Police, and they are
very specific questions. I refer to concerns raised by the Western Australian
Police Union on Monday about police officers becoming increasingly frustrated
with the Department of Justice's electronic monitoring program due to a lack of
resources and unnecessary delays.
(1)
How quickly is the Western Australia Police Force responding to alerts
generated from electronic monitoring in regional WA?
(2)
Is it true that, in some cases, it can take six to 12 hours or even longer for
police to respond to a breach?
(3)
Is it a core business of WA police to carry out routine maintenance of tracking
devices in regional areas, which commonly involves replacing flat batteries?
AnswerView source ↗
As multiple ministers have said today, this is one of the
most advanced and best policies for family and domestic violence in the
country. We have invested half a billion dollars, and the rest of the world is
coming to us to see how to do it. As for police reaction times, I can assure
you that it is instantaneous. The response is instantaneous. If you get up to
speed with your portfolio and if you visit the State Operations Command Centre,
you will see—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members of the opposition!
Mr Reece Whitby: That is enough theatrics for the day.
I would like to address the member for Kalamunda. You will see that an alert
goes off on a computer in that centre. It is monitored 24/7 by Department of
Justice officers and police, and a response is instantaneous. We are in a big
state, and the police who will respond to those urgent requirements will do so
instantaneously. The member wants me to tell him how many kilometres each
person travels; I cannot do that, but I am telling him that the police do their
job. They are conscientious. They are very aware of family and domestic
violence, and they respond as quickly as they possibly can at all times. I
think that it is a bit sad that, as the new police shadow spokesman, the member
would be calling into question their response times or their commitment to this
issue.
most advanced and best policies for family and domestic violence in the
country. We have invested half a billion dollars, and the rest of the world is
coming to us to see how to do it. As for police reaction times, I can assure
you that it is instantaneous. The response is instantaneous. If you get up to
speed with your portfolio and if you visit the State Operations Command Centre,
you will see—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members of the opposition!
Mr Reece Whitby: That is enough theatrics for the day.
I would like to address the member for Kalamunda. You will see that an alert
goes off on a computer in that centre. It is monitored 24/7 by Department of
Justice officers and police, and a response is instantaneous. We are in a big
state, and the police who will respond to those urgent requirements will do so
instantaneously. The member wants me to tell him how many kilometres each
person travels; I cannot do that, but I am telling him that the police do their
job. They are conscientious. They are very aware of family and domestic
violence, and they respond as quickly as they possibly can at all times. I
think that it is a bit sad that, as the new police shadow spokesman, the member
would be calling into question their response times or their commitment to this
issue.
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