❓ Ms Warr questions the prioritisation of police resources in Inglewood over persistent crime in regional Geraldton. The Minister defends the government's commitment to regional policing, citing recent visits and resource deployments to Geraldton.
AnsweredQoN 117Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Police resources
117. Ms Kirrilee Warr to the Minister for Police:
I refer to the
recent surge in arrests and heightened police presence at the Ninth Avenue
public housing complex in Inglewood, which the minister has declared an
absolute priority for WA police. Why is this level of urgency and deployment
rightly being afforded to a complex in the suburb of Inglewood while regional
suburbs such as Geraldton continue to endure persistent crime and antisocial
behaviour without any permanent increase in local police resourcing?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Treasurer, I call you to order for the
first time. Member for Central Wheatbelt, I call you to order for the first
time. The Minister for Police.
117. Ms Kirrilee Warr to the Minister for Police:
I refer to the
recent surge in arrests and heightened police presence at the Ninth Avenue
public housing complex in Inglewood, which the minister has declared an
absolute priority for WA police. Why is this level of urgency and deployment
rightly being afforded to a complex in the suburb of Inglewood while regional
suburbs such as Geraldton continue to endure persistent crime and antisocial
behaviour without any permanent increase in local police resourcing?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Treasurer, I call you to order for the
first time. Member for Central Wheatbelt, I call you to order for the first
time. The Minister for Police.
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you, Mr
Speaker. I did not know the split in Canberra had reached Perth so quickly. Members
opposite seem to be working in opposite directions.
I am surprised at
the question, quite frankly, because, as the member knows, I visited Geraldton
last week. It was a very good visit, and I really appreciate Hon Sandra Carr
for inviting me up there and hosting me. I met with the new member for
Geraldton while I was there and we discussed issues about policing in
Geraldton. As the member probably knows, there has been a substantial
investment in our Operation Regional Shield policing in Geraldton. At the time
I visited the police station there, there were Regional Shield officers on deployment
and they told me that they love coming to Geraldton because they are so well
received by the local police and it is a great place to live and to spend some
time. They were very effective. Indeed, there will be more Regional Shield
police officers on the way next week and the week after that and probably the
week after that. We are deploying resources to issues in the town.
Again, these are
complex issues. They often involve juvenile crime. That is an issue that is
complex and not easy to solve and the root causes go back to family et cetera.
I had many meetings with the local police and community youth centre and other
community leaders and there was a forum at the local council. We sat down
around the table and we had a very good discussion.
There is no doubt that this government is aware of the
issues and pressures in Geraldton, as there are pressures and issues in
other parts of regional Western Australia and in Western Australia. The
important thing is that we have a very well resourced police force in this state.
I think we have the best police force in the country. It is incredibly well
resourced. It has access to the latest technology. Some of the other forces
that visit Perth are amazed at the high-tech and the way that WA police are
able to fight crime using technology. Again, it comes back to the standard of
the young men and women often on the street and the fact that our academy is
turning out record numbers of new officers—1,000 a year. We are
committed to dealing with the pressures and challenges of crime right around
Western Australia. I would have thought that our conversations and our visit to
Geraldton last week demonstrated our commitment, and we will continue to do so.
Speaker. I did not know the split in Canberra had reached Perth so quickly. Members
opposite seem to be working in opposite directions.
I am surprised at
the question, quite frankly, because, as the member knows, I visited Geraldton
last week. It was a very good visit, and I really appreciate Hon Sandra Carr
for inviting me up there and hosting me. I met with the new member for
Geraldton while I was there and we discussed issues about policing in
Geraldton. As the member probably knows, there has been a substantial
investment in our Operation Regional Shield policing in Geraldton. At the time
I visited the police station there, there were Regional Shield officers on deployment
and they told me that they love coming to Geraldton because they are so well
received by the local police and it is a great place to live and to spend some
time. They were very effective. Indeed, there will be more Regional Shield
police officers on the way next week and the week after that and probably the
week after that. We are deploying resources to issues in the town.
Again, these are
complex issues. They often involve juvenile crime. That is an issue that is
complex and not easy to solve and the root causes go back to family et cetera.
I had many meetings with the local police and community youth centre and other
community leaders and there was a forum at the local council. We sat down
around the table and we had a very good discussion.
There is no doubt that this government is aware of the
issues and pressures in Geraldton, as there are pressures and issues in
other parts of regional Western Australia and in Western Australia. The
important thing is that we have a very well resourced police force in this state.
I think we have the best police force in the country. It is incredibly well
resourced. It has access to the latest technology. Some of the other forces
that visit Perth are amazed at the high-tech and the way that WA police are
able to fight crime using technology. Again, it comes back to the standard of
the young men and women often on the street and the fact that our academy is
turning out record numbers of new officers—1,000 a year. We are
committed to dealing with the pressures and challenges of crime right around
Western Australia. I would have thought that our conversations and our visit to
Geraldton last week demonstrated our commitment, and we will continue to do so.
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