Mr. Love questions the Premier about the lack of a long-term plan to address rising crime in regional WA, following the deployment of Operation Regional Shield. The Premier responds by highlighting a decrease in overall criminal offences compared to previous years under a different government.

AnsweredQoN 130Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 March 2024
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

POLICE — OPERATION REGIONAL SHIELD
130. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Two
years after the Premier launched Operation Regional Shield to combat the crisis
in the Kimberley, we had a crisis in Kalgoorlie and he deployed that operation
there. When are we going to see a long-term plan to combat the rising tide of
crime in regional WA?

AnswerView source ↗

I think it is very important to
reflect on the level of criminal activity in Western Australia under our
government compared with when the coalition was in government.
Mr
R.S. Love : Take responsibility
for what is happening in your government. It is happening under your
government.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : That is right.
Let me tell the Leader of the Opposition what has happened under my government.
There has been a decrease in overall criminal offences compared with 2019 when
crime peaked under the Liberals and Nationals. In 2023, compared to 2016, there
was a 53 per cent decrease in dwelling burglaries; a 26 per cent decrease in motor vehicle theft; a 20 per cent
decrease in property damage; and a 33 per cent decrease in drug offences.
We can see that not only are the resources, the policies of
my government and the laws that we bring into being doing such an important job
for Western Australians, but also we see amazing police officers day in, day
out doing great work on behalf of this community. They are doing an incredible
job on behalf of all Western Australians. That is the reason we have seen such
a significant decrease in criminal activity under my watch.

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