❓ WA Police Force staffing levels, departures, exit surveys, and assaults on officers are examined. Data on charges for assaults on public officers (including police) is provided, but information on lost-time injuries and leave taken due to assaults is unavailable due to resource constraints.
AnsweredQoN 2452Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) In relation to the
authorised sworn strength of the Western Australia Police Force of 6,350 officers, I ask at the
following dates what was the number of sworn officers employed by the Western Australia Police
Force by headcount and FTE: (a) 1 January 2018; (b) 1 July 2018; (c) 1 January 2019; (d) 1 July 2019; and (e) currently? (2) How many sworn
officers departed employment from the Western Australia Police Force in each of the following
years: (a) 2018-19; (b) 2017-18; and (c) 2016-17? (3) Of
those identified in (2), how many exit surveys were conducted and how is response data aggregated? (4) Will the Minister please
provide aggregated data for each of the above mentioned years in (2)? (5) In relation to
assaults on police officers in the following years, will the Minister please provide the number of
charges: (a) 2018-19; (b) 2017-18; (c) 2016-17; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2014-15; (f) 2013-14; and (g) 2012-13? (6) For
each of the above mentioned years in (5), will the Minister pplease identify the number of
lost-time injuries incurred and the number of days officers took leave in each
year related to the assault?
authorised sworn strength of the Western Australia Police Force of 6,350 officers, I ask at the
following dates what was the number of sworn officers employed by the Western Australia Police
Force by headcount and FTE: (a) 1 January 2018; (b) 1 July 2018; (c) 1 January 2019; (d) 1 July 2019; and (e) currently? (2) How many sworn
officers departed employment from the Western Australia Police Force in each of the following
years: (a) 2018-19; (b) 2017-18; and (c) 2016-17? (3) Of
those identified in (2), how many exit surveys were conducted and how is response data aggregated? (4) Will the Minister please
provide aggregated data for each of the above mentioned years in (2)? (5) In relation to
assaults on police officers in the following years, will the Minister please provide the number of
charges: (a) 2018-19; (b) 2017-18; (c) 2016-17; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2014-15; (f) 2013-14; and (g) 2012-13? (6) For
each of the above mentioned years in (5), will the Minister pplease identify the number of
lost-time injuries incurred and the number of days officers took leave in each
year related to the assault?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 October 2019
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Police
Response time
9 days
The Western Australia Police advise:
(1) (a)-(e) On 1 January 2018 the police officer (recruit to commander) headcount was 6 454 and 6 285 FTE; on 1 July 2018 6 459 headcount and 6 282 FTE; on 1 January 2019 6 356 headcount and 6 183 FTE; on 1 July 2019 6 446 headcount and 6 235 FTE; and on 1 September 2019 6 474 headcount and 6 274.5 FTE. There are 158 recruits in the Academy, of which 50 started on 14 October 2019, and more recruit schools will commence before the end of the year. By December 2019, recruits will have been engaged to replace the police officers who chose to take a voluntary severance.
(2) (a)-(c) The number of sworn officers who departed employment from the Western Australia Police Force is 197 for 2016-17; 121 for 2017-18 and 259 for 2018- 19 (2018-19 includes officers accepting a severance).
(3) (a)-(c) The number of exit surveys completed are 38 in 2016-17; 51 in 2017-18 and 91 in 2018-19. Completion of the exit survey is voluntary. The data is aggregated as per the reports tabled for question 4.
(4) Please refer to tabled papers [ ], [ ], and [ ].
(5) (a)-(g) Assaults against police officers are an ‘Assault Public Officer’ offence under s. 318(1)(d) of the Criminal Code Act 1913 (WA). The number of charges under section 318(1)(d) is 1 137 for 2012-13; 1 059 for 2013-14; 1 025 for 2014-15; 1 178 for 2015-16; 1 426 for 2016-17; 1 360 for 2017-18 and 1 409 for 2018- 19. Data is provisional and subject to revision. Charges per year is a count of unique charges under ‘Assault Public Officer’ as defined in s. 318(1)(d) of the Act, where an associated brief has been created. Any person who assaults a public officer during the course of their duties, or on account of them being a public officer, is committing serious assault under s. 318(1)(d) of the Act. Section 318 of the Act does not refer to the assault of a police officer as distinct from other professions. Figures exclude charges where the associated brief or case has been deleted or where security caveats are in place.
(6) The response required for this question would take a significant amount of time and resources to collate and process. It is therefore not possible for the WA Police Force to obtain this information without significantly compromising other core policing activities.
(1) (a)-(e) On 1 January 2018 the police officer (recruit to commander) headcount was 6 454 and 6 285 FTE; on 1 July 2018 6 459 headcount and 6 282 FTE; on 1 January 2019 6 356 headcount and 6 183 FTE; on 1 July 2019 6 446 headcount and 6 235 FTE; and on 1 September 2019 6 474 headcount and 6 274.5 FTE. There are 158 recruits in the Academy, of which 50 started on 14 October 2019, and more recruit schools will commence before the end of the year. By December 2019, recruits will have been engaged to replace the police officers who chose to take a voluntary severance.
(2) (a)-(c) The number of sworn officers who departed employment from the Western Australia Police Force is 197 for 2016-17; 121 for 2017-18 and 259 for 2018- 19 (2018-19 includes officers accepting a severance).
(3) (a)-(c) The number of exit surveys completed are 38 in 2016-17; 51 in 2017-18 and 91 in 2018-19. Completion of the exit survey is voluntary. The data is aggregated as per the reports tabled for question 4.
(4) Please refer to tabled papers [ ], [ ], and [ ].
(5) (a)-(g) Assaults against police officers are an ‘Assault Public Officer’ offence under s. 318(1)(d) of the Criminal Code Act 1913 (WA). The number of charges under section 318(1)(d) is 1 137 for 2012-13; 1 059 for 2013-14; 1 025 for 2014-15; 1 178 for 2015-16; 1 426 for 2016-17; 1 360 for 2017-18 and 1 409 for 2018- 19. Data is provisional and subject to revision. Charges per year is a count of unique charges under ‘Assault Public Officer’ as defined in s. 318(1)(d) of the Act, where an associated brief has been created. Any person who assaults a public officer during the course of their duties, or on account of them being a public officer, is committing serious assault under s. 318(1)(d) of the Act. Section 318 of the Act does not refer to the assault of a police officer as distinct from other professions. Figures exclude charges where the associated brief or case has been deleted or where security caveats are in place.
(6) The response required for this question would take a significant amount of time and resources to collate and process. It is therefore not possible for the WA Police Force to obtain this information without significantly compromising other core policing activities.
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