❓ Question regarding the reduction of specialist domestic violence police officers in the Peel and South East Metropolitan districts, given a significant increase in domestic violence incidents. The Minister's response outlines the intention of the new policing model to equip all officers to handle domestic violence.
AnsweredQoN 983Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
983. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Acting
Minister for Police:
I refer to the alarming 77 per cent increase in domestic
violence in Western Australia between 2009–10 and 2013–14, and
the Premier's comment that it is a growing problem in our community.
(1) Is the
minister aware that under the policing model the number of officers tasked
specifically to domestic violence in the Peel district has decreased from six
officers to just one officer, and that in the south east metropolitan district
there has been a 50 per cent reduction in police officers specifically dealing
with domestic violence?
(2) Will a
significant reduction in officers specifically tasked to deal with domestic
violence in each police district just make things worse?
983. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Acting
Minister for Police:
I refer to the alarming 77 per cent increase in domestic
violence in Western Australia between 2009–10 and 2013–14, and
the Premier's comment that it is a growing problem in our community.
(1) Is the
minister aware that under the policing model the number of officers tasked
specifically to domestic violence in the Peel district has decreased from six
officers to just one officer, and that in the south east metropolitan district
there has been a 50 per cent reduction in police officers specifically dealing
with domestic violence?
(2) Will a
significant reduction in officers specifically tasked to deal with domestic
violence in each police district just make things worse?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. He raises an issue that is of a very high
level of importance to us all and a serious problem in the community, given
that most people who suffer assaults do so at the hands of somebody who is
known to them and, generally speaking, it is, sadly, a woman at the hands of a
male partner. In relation to the new policing model, the intention is to have a
system in which there are more police out on the roads and in the community
able to act proactively, and reactively when that is necessary. This is to
ensure that all the police in the community are able to deal with the sort of
issues the member raised—that is, domestic violence and related issues.
Although I have not been briefed specifically on the changes of dealing with
domestic violence, I have no doubt that the intention would be to ensure that
there are more police out there and that all of those police are able to deal
with domestic violence issues, given they can occur right across the community.
Rather than them having an excessively narrow focus on officers only dealing
with domestic violence, the aim would be to try to ensure that the capacity —
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The aim would be to ensure that the capacity is increased
overall so that the police can be more effective in this area.
thank the member for the question. He raises an issue that is of a very high
level of importance to us all and a serious problem in the community, given
that most people who suffer assaults do so at the hands of somebody who is
known to them and, generally speaking, it is, sadly, a woman at the hands of a
male partner. In relation to the new policing model, the intention is to have a
system in which there are more police out on the roads and in the community
able to act proactively, and reactively when that is necessary. This is to
ensure that all the police in the community are able to deal with the sort of
issues the member raised—that is, domestic violence and related issues.
Although I have not been briefed specifically on the changes of dealing with
domestic violence, I have no doubt that the intention would be to ensure that
there are more police out there and that all of those police are able to deal
with domestic violence issues, given they can occur right across the community.
Rather than them having an excessively narrow focus on officers only dealing
with domestic violence, the aim would be to try to ensure that the capacity —
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The aim would be to ensure that the capacity is increased
overall so that the police can be more effective in this area.
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