❓ A parliamentary question regarding the safety of Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers (APLOs) after a decision to prohibit them from carrying firearms. The Minister acknowledges safety concerns and refers to ongoing discussions and an Industrial Relations Commission review.
AnsweredQoN 857Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter addressed to Aboriginal police liaison officers in Western Australia signed by the Commissioner of Police and dated 11 March 2002. That letter said that none of the Aboriginal police liaison officers’ principal responsibilities includes a requirement for them to engage in any activity or task that would involve enforcement or risks to be taken for their personal safety and, therefore, there is no need for them to carry firearms. (1) Can the minister guarantee that no APLO will be required to attend potentially dangerous situations involving Aboriginal people? (2) If not, does the minister hold concerns for the safety of APLOs in light of the recent decision to prohibit these officers from carrying firearms? (3) Does the minister consider that the safety of some sworn police officers in remote areas of the State might be compromised if they were required to attend an emergency situation accompanied by only an unarmed APLO? Mrs ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(1) Can the minister guarantee that no APLO will be required to attend potentially dangerous situations involving Aboriginal people? (2) If not, does the minister hold concerns for the safety of APLOs in light of the recent decision to prohibit these officers from carrying firearms? (3) Does the minister consider that the safety of some sworn police officers in remote areas of the State might be compromised if they were required to attend an emergency situation accompanied by only an unarmed APLO? Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(2) If not, does the minister hold concerns for the safety of APLOs in light of the recent decision to prohibit these officers from carrying firearms? (3) Does the minister consider that the safety of some sworn police officers in remote areas of the State might be compromised if they were required to attend an emergency situation accompanied by only an unarmed APLO? Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(3) Does the minister consider that the safety of some sworn police officers in remote areas of the State might be compromised if they were required to attend an emergency situation accompanied by only an unarmed APLO? Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(1) Can the minister guarantee that no APLO will be required to attend potentially dangerous situations involving Aboriginal people? (2) If not, does the minister hold concerns for the safety of APLOs in light of the recent decision to prohibit these officers from carrying firearms? (3) Does the minister consider that the safety of some sworn police officers in remote areas of the State might be compromised if they were required to attend an emergency situation accompanied by only an unarmed APLO? Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(2) If not, does the minister hold concerns for the safety of APLOs in light of the recent decision to prohibit these officers from carrying firearms? (3) Does the minister consider that the safety of some sworn police officers in remote areas of the State might be compromised if they were required to attend an emergency situation accompanied by only an unarmed APLO? Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(3) Does the minister consider that the safety of some sworn police officers in remote areas of the State might be compromised if they were required to attend an emergency situation accompanied by only an unarmed APLO? Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
Mrs ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(1) No. (2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(2) Of course I have concerns for the safety of Aboriginal police liaison officers. However, the matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission. Throughout this year I have had discussions with the Commissioner of Police about the enforcement of the new policy. The commissioner has pointed out a number of facts, including that he and the command team have made the decision that APLOs should not have guns. He has also pointed out that they are provided with capsicum spray and long batons. He has said that if a mob of people were to confront a single armed APLO, the gun could be used against the APLO. He highlighted to me that in the United States 40 per cent of police officers who are shot and killed on duty are shot with their own guns. Having a gun does not necessarily make the situation safer. At present it is my intention to wait and see the Industrial Relations Commission finding. I can certainly assure the House that the Commissioner of Police has not made the decision lightly. He has made it in conjunction with his command team. He took special advice from Commander Graham Power, who is the commander for the northern region in which the APLOs are based. (3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
(3) Yes, I have some concerns, which I have raised with the Commissioner of Police.
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