❓ Question regarding the WA government's plan to address out-of-control parties. The Minister outlines a three-pronged approach involving police powers, tools, and community responsibility, including increased police dog numbers and riot buses.
AnsweredQoN 409Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OUT-OF-CONTROL PARTIES — POLICE RESPONSE
409. Mr J.M. FRANCIS to the Minister for Police:
No doubt every member on this side of the house is very aware
of the need to keep the Western Australian community safe and secure in their
homes and neighbourhoods. I refer to out-of-control parties, in particular. Can
the minister please update the house on the government's plan to break
the back of these out-of-control parties?
409. Mr J.M. FRANCIS to the Minister for Police:
No doubt every member on this side of the house is very aware
of the need to keep the Western Australian community safe and secure in their
homes and neighbourhoods. I refer to out-of-control parties, in particular. Can
the minister please update the house on the government's plan to break
the back of these out-of-control parties?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Over the last six weeks there have been 204 public disorder incidents reported
to the police. Of those 204 public disorder incidents, an average of three per
week have been priority 2 incidents. For the information of members, a priority
2 incident is one that is so serious and volatile that urgent police attendance
is required. The government's strategy in managing out-of-control
parties is a three-pronged approach. First, we want to make it easier for
police to be able to get in and control these parties, and to identify and shut
down out-of-control parties. Second, we want to make sure that police have the
tools that they need to effectively go about their business. Some of those will
be legislative tools, but in addition we are looking at other tools to help
them manage and rapidly disperse mobs. Third, we want to encourage the
community and the hosts of these parties to act responsibly.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Girrawheen!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : We also want to make sure that criminally responsible hosts
face sanctions. As the member for Jandakot is the owner of a lovely Alsatian
dog called Rex, he would no doubt be aware that on the weekend the state
government announced a $1.2 million investment—new money—in
doubling the size of general-purpose dogs —
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I mean, doubling the number of general-purpose dogs! The
bigger the better, as far as I am concerned! The purpose of these dogs is to snarl, growl and bark to scare people,
instilling the fear of God into these people. The dogs and the police are able
to effectively manage the crowds. That is one of the initiatives announced over
the weekend.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why aren't you getting more horses?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : We have also been talking to the Department
of Corrective Services, and we have two riot buses that will give the police
the capacity to detain up to 14 offenders. The advantage of these buses is that
we can separate males, females and juveniles. The buses will have cameras
fitted in them and also toilet facilities. The police can detain and hold these
offenders on site, outside out-of-control parties, or they can take them away
and process them at a facility. One thing members opposite can be certain of is
that this government will take a pragmatic and sensible approach.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why aren't you getting more horses?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I will be interested to know whether the
member for Midland is across the WA Labor Party's policy on
out-of-control parties, because she did have a rather embarrassing moment on
the radio this week trying to articulate that policy.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Really! Have you got a request for horses
or not? That is what I am asking you!
The
SPEAKER : Minister for
Police, if you are going to refer to a person in this place, you should expect
something to come back.
Member for Midland, I
have given you a couple of cautions, and I will give you a further caution.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I can assure the house that the government
will not be embarking on some kind of red-tape initiative mandating that every
single backyard party in Western Australia has to be registered with the
police.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I can guarantee the house that we will not
be doing that. I can also assure the house that legislation is currently being
drafted, and members will be able to peruse that legislation and forensically
go through it when I bring it to the house.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I am formally going to call you to order for
the first time today.
Over the last six weeks there have been 204 public disorder incidents reported
to the police. Of those 204 public disorder incidents, an average of three per
week have been priority 2 incidents. For the information of members, a priority
2 incident is one that is so serious and volatile that urgent police attendance
is required. The government's strategy in managing out-of-control
parties is a three-pronged approach. First, we want to make it easier for
police to be able to get in and control these parties, and to identify and shut
down out-of-control parties. Second, we want to make sure that police have the
tools that they need to effectively go about their business. Some of those will
be legislative tools, but in addition we are looking at other tools to help
them manage and rapidly disperse mobs. Third, we want to encourage the
community and the hosts of these parties to act responsibly.
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Girrawheen!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : We also want to make sure that criminally responsible hosts
face sanctions. As the member for Jandakot is the owner of a lovely Alsatian
dog called Rex, he would no doubt be aware that on the weekend the state
government announced a $1.2 million investment—new money—in
doubling the size of general-purpose dogs —
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I mean, doubling the number of general-purpose dogs! The
bigger the better, as far as I am concerned! The purpose of these dogs is to snarl, growl and bark to scare people,
instilling the fear of God into these people. The dogs and the police are able
to effectively manage the crowds. That is one of the initiatives announced over
the weekend.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why aren't you getting more horses?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : We have also been talking to the Department
of Corrective Services, and we have two riot buses that will give the police
the capacity to detain up to 14 offenders. The advantage of these buses is that
we can separate males, females and juveniles. The buses will have cameras
fitted in them and also toilet facilities. The police can detain and hold these
offenders on site, outside out-of-control parties, or they can take them away
and process them at a facility. One thing members opposite can be certain of is
that this government will take a pragmatic and sensible approach.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Why aren't you getting more horses?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I will be interested to know whether the
member for Midland is across the WA Labor Party's policy on
out-of-control parties, because she did have a rather embarrassing moment on
the radio this week trying to articulate that policy.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Really! Have you got a request for horses
or not? That is what I am asking you!
The
SPEAKER : Minister for
Police, if you are going to refer to a person in this place, you should expect
something to come back.
Member for Midland, I
have given you a couple of cautions, and I will give you a further caution.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I can assure the house that the government
will not be embarking on some kind of red-tape initiative mandating that every
single backyard party in Western Australia has to be registered with the
police.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I can guarantee the house that we will not
be doing that. I can also assure the house that legislation is currently being
drafted, and members will be able to peruse that legislation and forensically
go through it when I bring it to the house.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I am formally going to call you to order for
the first time today.
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