❓ Question regarding the McGowan government's investment in police resources and recruitment. The Minister responds by highlighting drug busts, increased police numbers, and diversification efforts within the police force.
AnsweredQoN 683Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — RECRUITS
683. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Minister for Police:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's massive investment in police resources and protecting our
community from crime. Can the minister update the house on this government's
commitment to boosting police numbers and recruiting the officers we need to
keep our community safe?
683. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Minister for Police:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's massive investment in police resources and protecting our
community from crime. Can the minister update the house on this government's
commitment to boosting police numbers and recruiting the officers we need to
keep our community safe?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Armadale for
his question and for his support of our police. I am pleased his electorate of
Armadale will be getting a comprehensive police and justice centre, which our
government looks forward to opening hopefully next year. The fact is that our
police have been doing an incredible job. They have been targeting methamphetamine
and organised crime in the Western Australian community like never before.
Yesterday I highlighted the fantastic drug bust on a property in Alkimos,
including over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine and over $1.2 million in cash,
along with guns. People may have seen on the news last night that on Wednesday,
21 August, there was a massive seizure from Jandakot, including approximately
690 grams of MDMA powder, more cash, and an industrial pill press that can
produce about 8 000 pills an hour. Those are the kinds of pills that are distributed at music parties and other venues
where young people go. Taking that out of commission is a very rare thing. In fact, Assistant Commissioner of Police
Brad Royce said yesterday that in his 25-year career in policing he had
only ever seen one other pill press of this nature. This has really taken a dent
out of those criminal enterprises.
The member for Armadale asked me
how the government was going with recruitment. As he will be aware, unlike the
former government, this government made a commitment to more police at the
election. We have extended that commitment. At the election, the government
promised 100 additional officers for the methamphetamine task force and 25 officers for the regional enforcement
unit. It has delivered 13 extra officers for the 24-hour and extended police stations. That takes us to 138 officers. But, in addition to that, the
government through its budget process has allocated another 10 officers to
fight domestic violence in our community, so that is 148 additional officers.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to
visit the Western Australia Police Academy, which has more squads in training
than previously. Previously, we needed only six colours to name our squads—red,
blue, gold, green, grey and white. We are now operating two further squads—silver
and brown. Two of those squads will graduate on 13 September. We have cadets in
training and also a greater diversity of recruits among those. Over a third of
those in training were born overseas. We also have two groups of Aboriginal
police cadets in training, which has been a special priority of Commissioner
Dawson. We also have some culturally and linguistically diverse trainees, which
is a new initiative to diversify our police workforce. The first of the CALD
trainees commenced at the police academy on 12 August as part of a police
preparation program. The CALD trainees include people born in countries that
have been categorised by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, but it excludes
Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Northern Scotland et cetera.
The trainees come from Kenya, Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Brazil and Belgium.
They speak a variety of different languages, including Punjabi, Hindi, Swahili,
Urdu, Chinese, Mandarin, Brazilian and French.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Yes.
There
is a real effort by Commissioner Dawson to diversify our police force. I note
that despite the academy operating at just about capacity—we
have more squads to start before the end of the year—we are focusing
very much on having a much more diverse workforce.
I also note that the current
attrition rate for the WA police for 2019–20 is about nine a month; so
many more officers are coming in to train than are exiting.
his question and for his support of our police. I am pleased his electorate of
Armadale will be getting a comprehensive police and justice centre, which our
government looks forward to opening hopefully next year. The fact is that our
police have been doing an incredible job. They have been targeting methamphetamine
and organised crime in the Western Australian community like never before.
Yesterday I highlighted the fantastic drug bust on a property in Alkimos,
including over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine and over $1.2 million in cash,
along with guns. People may have seen on the news last night that on Wednesday,
21 August, there was a massive seizure from Jandakot, including approximately
690 grams of MDMA powder, more cash, and an industrial pill press that can
produce about 8 000 pills an hour. Those are the kinds of pills that are distributed at music parties and other venues
where young people go. Taking that out of commission is a very rare thing. In fact, Assistant Commissioner of Police
Brad Royce said yesterday that in his 25-year career in policing he had
only ever seen one other pill press of this nature. This has really taken a dent
out of those criminal enterprises.
The member for Armadale asked me
how the government was going with recruitment. As he will be aware, unlike the
former government, this government made a commitment to more police at the
election. We have extended that commitment. At the election, the government
promised 100 additional officers for the methamphetamine task force and 25 officers for the regional enforcement
unit. It has delivered 13 extra officers for the 24-hour and extended police stations. That takes us to 138 officers. But, in addition to that, the
government through its budget process has allocated another 10 officers to
fight domestic violence in our community, so that is 148 additional officers.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to
visit the Western Australia Police Academy, which has more squads in training
than previously. Previously, we needed only six colours to name our squads—red,
blue, gold, green, grey and white. We are now operating two further squads—silver
and brown. Two of those squads will graduate on 13 September. We have cadets in
training and also a greater diversity of recruits among those. Over a third of
those in training were born overseas. We also have two groups of Aboriginal
police cadets in training, which has been a special priority of Commissioner
Dawson. We also have some culturally and linguistically diverse trainees, which
is a new initiative to diversify our police workforce. The first of the CALD
trainees commenced at the police academy on 12 August as part of a police
preparation program. The CALD trainees include people born in countries that
have been categorised by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, but it excludes
Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Northern Scotland et cetera.
The trainees come from Kenya, Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Brazil and Belgium.
They speak a variety of different languages, including Punjabi, Hindi, Swahili,
Urdu, Chinese, Mandarin, Brazilian and French.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Yes.
There
is a real effort by Commissioner Dawson to diversify our police force. I note
that despite the academy operating at just about capacity—we
have more squads to start before the end of the year—we are focusing
very much on having a much more diverse workforce.
I also note that the current
attrition rate for the WA police for 2019–20 is about nine a month; so
many more officers are coming in to train than are exiting.
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