❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks detailed information on police officer numbers, recruitment strategies, and academy redevelopment, highlighting concerns about regional policing and resource allocation. The answers provided are vague and non-committal.
AnsweredQoN 551Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to pages 400 and 401 of Budget Paper No.2, Volume 2, which refers to Regional Police Officer Recruitment as an election commitment, and I ask: (a) what are the current Police Officer numbers in: (i) Metropolitan Western Australia (WA); and (ii) Regional WA; (b) what is the shortfall in Police Officer numbers in: (i) Metropolitan WA; and (ii) Regional WA; (c) what numbers are currently being sought by way of recruitment: (i) locally; (ii) interstate; and (iii) overseas; and (d) in relation to the redevelopment of the former residential accommodation at the Western Australian Police Academy: (i) when is this redevelopment due to commence; and (ii) by what date will it be completed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for the Environment representing the Minister for Police
Response time
5 days
(a) Note: figures do not include Police officers in other portfolios including Specialist Policing Services. As at 9 October 2025:
(i) 2,470
(ii) 1,701
(b)
(i-ii) Police Officers regularly move across the agency and there will always be a varying number of positions, at any time, where the incumbent has vacated a position and the newly selected officer is yet to arrive, creating a vacancy for a period of time.
(c)
(i-iii) The agency continues to recruit as many candidates as possible.
(d)
(i-ii) As this project is in the planning phase, timeframes are subject to change.
(i) 2,470
(ii) 1,701
(b)
(i-ii) Police Officers regularly move across the agency and there will always be a varying number of positions, at any time, where the incumbent has vacated a position and the newly selected officer is yet to arrive, creating a vacancy for a period of time.
(c)
(i-iii) The agency continues to recruit as many candidates as possible.
(d)
(i-ii) As this project is in the planning phase, timeframes are subject to change.
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