❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier on the effectiveness of Operation Regional Shield, citing plummeting police recruitment, rising crime, and WA's status as a 'meth capital'. The Premier defends the government's commitment to community safety, highlighting increased police numbers and recruitment efforts.
AnsweredQoN 129Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — OPERATION REGIONAL SHIELD
129. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
It is now two years since Operation
Regional Shield was launched. In those two years, we have seen police
recruitment numbers plummeting, crime statistics in regional WA rocketing and
regional WA becoming the meth capital of this nation. When will the Premier's
government take these issues seriously instead of rushing bandaid solutions
forward?
129. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
It is now two years since Operation
Regional Shield was launched. In those two years, we have seen police
recruitment numbers plummeting, crime statistics in regional WA rocketing and
regional WA becoming the meth capital of this nation. When will the Premier's
government take these issues seriously instead of rushing bandaid solutions
forward?
AnswerView source ↗
Community safety is our highest
priority—keeping people safe. We want the people of Western Australia
to feel that they can grow in this beautiful state with great jobs and
sustainable communities, living rewarding lives. That is why we put so many
resources and so much emphasis into making sure that we have a police force
that can continue to keep people safe. That
is why the number of police under our watch has grown significantly. For
instance , around the time we came to office, in February 2017, the
headcount was 6 408 in the police force. In January 2024, it was 6 991—almost
7 000. We have recruited another 180 officers in the last 12 months alone.
It
is true that when we have a workforce of such a significant size, we will have
churn—people will come in and out of it. It is absolutely
pleasing to see such a significant number of people wanting to become part of
our police force. A total of 4 239 people have applied to join the police
force, including 2 633 in Western Australia and
1 555 experienced international police officers, all wanting to get on the beat
in Western Australia. We currently have 400 people in the academy at
this point alone. A significant pipeline of recruits and development is taking
place. We have doubled the capacity of the academy so that 1 000 recruits can
come through in the course of this year. We have 6 744 officers, full-time
equivalents—509 more than when we came to government.
The importance of Operation Regional
Shield is that it provides us with the capability and the resources to continue to make sure we move these police officers
around the state to areas where they are needed most. It has been a game changer in terms of making sure that we keep on top of outbreaks of antisocial
behaviour. It has been extremely successful, and that is why we back it so
much.
It is true to say that Western Australia
is a great place to live and work. There are opportunities everywhere for
people to take up incredibly rewarding jobs. That is the same for any police
officer. We need to ensure that we keep our program of recruitment going,
making sure that we continue to lift the number of people on the beat and
continue to keep Western Australians safe.
priority—keeping people safe. We want the people of Western Australia
to feel that they can grow in this beautiful state with great jobs and
sustainable communities, living rewarding lives. That is why we put so many
resources and so much emphasis into making sure that we have a police force
that can continue to keep people safe. That
is why the number of police under our watch has grown significantly. For
instance , around the time we came to office, in February 2017, the
headcount was 6 408 in the police force. In January 2024, it was 6 991—almost
7 000. We have recruited another 180 officers in the last 12 months alone.
It
is true that when we have a workforce of such a significant size, we will have
churn—people will come in and out of it. It is absolutely
pleasing to see such a significant number of people wanting to become part of
our police force. A total of 4 239 people have applied to join the police
force, including 2 633 in Western Australia and
1 555 experienced international police officers, all wanting to get on the beat
in Western Australia. We currently have 400 people in the academy at
this point alone. A significant pipeline of recruits and development is taking
place. We have doubled the capacity of the academy so that 1 000 recruits can
come through in the course of this year. We have 6 744 officers, full-time
equivalents—509 more than when we came to government.
The importance of Operation Regional
Shield is that it provides us with the capability and the resources to continue to make sure we move these police officers
around the state to areas where they are needed most. It has been a game changer in terms of making sure that we keep on top of outbreaks of antisocial
behaviour. It has been extremely successful, and that is why we back it so
much.
It is true to say that Western Australia
is a great place to live and work. There are opportunities everywhere for
people to take up incredibly rewarding jobs. That is the same for any police
officer. We need to ensure that we keep our program of recruitment going,
making sure that we continue to lift the number of people on the beat and
continue to keep Western Australians safe.
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