❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the WA Police Canine section's staffing, budget, and operational changes since 2015. Reveals staffing levels, FTE reductions, and a shift towards dual-purpose dog capabilities.
AnsweredQoN 6385Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Western Australian Police Canine section, and ask: (a) For each year since 2015 how many staff have comprised the Canine section; (b) Of the staff in each year, how many were sworn officers and how many were unsworn staff; (c) For each year since 2015 how many police officers have departed the Canine section because they reached the maximum tenure; (d) Since 2017 how many full-time equivalent (FTE) positions have been removed from the Canine section; (e) For each of the past three years what is the actual and authorised strength of the Canine section; (f) In 2019-20 and 2020-21 (to date) has there been a change in the shift start times of the Canine section; (g) If there was a change in shift start times was there any particular reason for it; (h) Did the Canine section receive an allocation in its budget from Operation Heat Shield; and (i) How many trainee dogs commenced in 2019 and 2020?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 November 2020
Responded by
Minister for Police; Road Safety
Response time
19 days
The Western Australian Police Force advise:
(a)
2015: 36
2016: 34
2017: 36
2018: 38
2019: 38
2020: 36
(b)
2015: 34 Sworn Police Officers and 2 Unsworn Police Staff
2016: 34 Sworn Police Officers
2017: 35 Sworn Police Officers and 1 Unsworn Police Staff
2018: 36 Sworn Police Officers and 2 Unsworn Police Staff
2019: 36 Sworn Police Officers and 2 Unsworn Police Staff
2020: 34 Sworn Police Officers and 2 Unsworn Police Staff
(c)
2015: Police are unable to provide a response as locating information would require manual search of records and correspondence.
2016: Police are unable to provide a response as locating information would require manual search of records and correspondence.
2017: One
2018: Two
2019: Nil
2020: One
(d) Three
(e)
2017: 36 Authorised and 36 Actual
2018: 38 Authorised and 36 Actual
2019: 38 Authorised and 36 Actual
2020: 36 Authorised and 36 Actual
(f) – (g) Dog handlers work a variety of shifts depending on operational need and shift start times vary regularly. Canine Section have moved to an operating model where dogs have Dual Purpose (DP) capability, allowing greater operational flexibility to locate and engage offenders as well as undertake narcotic detection work. These changes allow a greater coverage during peak periods on afternoon and evening shift.
(h) No
(i) In 2019, seven and to September 2020, four.
(a)
2015: 36
2016: 34
2017: 36
2018: 38
2019: 38
2020: 36
(b)
2015: 34 Sworn Police Officers and 2 Unsworn Police Staff
2016: 34 Sworn Police Officers
2017: 35 Sworn Police Officers and 1 Unsworn Police Staff
2018: 36 Sworn Police Officers and 2 Unsworn Police Staff
2019: 36 Sworn Police Officers and 2 Unsworn Police Staff
2020: 34 Sworn Police Officers and 2 Unsworn Police Staff
(c)
2015: Police are unable to provide a response as locating information would require manual search of records and correspondence.
2016: Police are unable to provide a response as locating information would require manual search of records and correspondence.
2017: One
2018: Two
2019: Nil
2020: One
(d) Three
(e)
2017: 36 Authorised and 36 Actual
2018: 38 Authorised and 36 Actual
2019: 38 Authorised and 36 Actual
2020: 36 Authorised and 36 Actual
(f) – (g) Dog handlers work a variety of shifts depending on operational need and shift start times vary regularly. Canine Section have moved to an operating model where dogs have Dual Purpose (DP) capability, allowing greater operational flexibility to locate and engage offenders as well as undertake narcotic detection work. These changes allow a greater coverage during peak periods on afternoon and evening shift.
(h) No
(i) In 2019, seven and to September 2020, four.
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