A WA parliamentary question seeks details on drug enforcement units, technology, and resources allocated to canine and mounted police units. The response provides information on funding, staffing, and operational considerations.

AnsweredQoN 2072Legislative Council
Asked
4 June 2004
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

Will the Minister please advise -
(1) What is the name of the dedicated drug enforcement unit in the WA Police Service?
(2) What is the authorised strength of this unit?
(3) How many other officers are involved in drug enforcement outside this unit?
(4) Has the Government undertaken any studies into the PhotoTrac system used in NSW?
(5) If so, what were the findings of these studies?
(6) How many charges did Justices of the Peace refuse to sign off on in 2002-2003?
(7) What is the total annual funding for the Canine Unit?
(8) How many Canine squads operate under the Canine Unit, and what is the funding to each Canine squad?
(9) On what basis are the locations of the canine squads decided?
(10) What is the total annual funding for the Mounted Unit?
(11) How many mounted squads operate under the Mounted Unit, and what is the funding to each mounted squad?
(12) On what basis are the locations of the mounted squads decided?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
18 August 2004
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
75 days
(1-3) The Western Australia Police Service advise the Organised Crime Division (OCD) within the Crime Investigation and Intelligence Services Portfolio, which includes Organised Crime Investigation, Asset Investigation and Gang Response Unit, targets upper echelon drug traffickers and established criminal networks. There are 116 FTEs in OCD. District Tactical Investigation Groups also enforce the Misuse of Drugs Act . All police officers are empowered to enforce the laws of this State in relation to drug matters. (4-5) The Police Service advise that PhotoTrac?s biometric recognition capabilities are centred on the eyes as the main anchor points with facial features then calculated as vectors. The Police Service?s Forensic Division?s Imaging Unit has been researching the viability of imaging technologies. The Imaging Unit has specific ?line up? technology in place ? the Digiboard system- that exceeds the capabilities of any similar facility in Australia. (6) The Police Service advises it does not readily collect or collate data of this nature. (7 - 9) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Canine Section is $1, 606,700.00. The Police Service advise that the Canine Section currently consists of 6 x General Purpose (GP) dogs and handlers; 3 x Narcotic Detection Dogs (NDD) and handlers. In addition, there are 4 x GP dogs and 2 x NDD dogs and their handlers under going training. 1 x GP dog and handler are located in Bunbury. The Canine Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service advise factors to be considered include analysis of the Bunbury Canine pilot program; the regional deployment of police dogs in other jurisdictions; line management and supervisory responsibilities; the implications of using police dogs in small remote communities; access to medical facilities; climatic factors; and on going training requirements. (10 -12) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Mounted Section is $2, 285, 900. The Mounted Section consists of 38 horses. The Mounted Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service prefers to deploy the Mounted Section to regional locations from a central location. The State Government has provided funding to that end.
(4-5) The Police Service advise that PhotoTrac?s biometric recognition capabilities are centred on the eyes as the main anchor points with facial features then calculated as vectors. The Police Service?s Forensic Division?s Imaging Unit has been researching the viability of imaging technologies. The Imaging Unit has specific ?line up? technology in place ? the Digiboard system- that exceeds the capabilities of any similar facility in Australia. (6) The Police Service advises it does not readily collect or collate data of this nature. (7 - 9) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Canine Section is $1, 606,700.00. The Police Service advise that the Canine Section currently consists of 6 x General Purpose (GP) dogs and handlers; 3 x Narcotic Detection Dogs (NDD) and handlers. In addition, there are 4 x GP dogs and 2 x NDD dogs and their handlers under going training. 1 x GP dog and handler are located in Bunbury. The Canine Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service advise factors to be considered include analysis of the Bunbury Canine pilot program; the regional deployment of police dogs in other jurisdictions; line management and supervisory responsibilities; the implications of using police dogs in small remote communities; access to medical facilities; climatic factors; and on going training requirements. (10 -12) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Mounted Section is $2, 285, 900. The Mounted Section consists of 38 horses. The Mounted Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service prefers to deploy the Mounted Section to regional locations from a central location. The State Government has provided funding to that end.
(6) The Police Service advises it does not readily collect or collate data of this nature. (7 - 9) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Canine Section is $1, 606,700.00. The Police Service advise that the Canine Section currently consists of 6 x General Purpose (GP) dogs and handlers; 3 x Narcotic Detection Dogs (NDD) and handlers. In addition, there are 4 x GP dogs and 2 x NDD dogs and their handlers under going training. 1 x GP dog and handler are located in Bunbury. The Canine Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service advise factors to be considered include analysis of the Bunbury Canine pilot program; the regional deployment of police dogs in other jurisdictions; line management and supervisory responsibilities; the implications of using police dogs in small remote communities; access to medical facilities; climatic factors; and on going training requirements. (10 -12) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Mounted Section is $2, 285, 900. The Mounted Section consists of 38 horses. The Mounted Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service prefers to deploy the Mounted Section to regional locations from a central location. The State Government has provided funding to that end.
(7 - 9) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Canine Section is $1, 606,700.00. The Police Service advise that the Canine Section currently consists of 6 x General Purpose (GP) dogs and handlers; 3 x Narcotic Detection Dogs (NDD) and handlers. In addition, there are 4 x GP dogs and 2 x NDD dogs and their handlers under going training. 1 x GP dog and handler are located in Bunbury. The Canine Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service advise factors to be considered include analysis of the Bunbury Canine pilot program; the regional deployment of police dogs in other jurisdictions; line management and supervisory responsibilities; the implications of using police dogs in small remote communities; access to medical facilities; climatic factors; and on going training requirements. (10 -12) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Mounted Section is $2, 285, 900. The Mounted Section consists of 38 horses. The Mounted Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service prefers to deploy the Mounted Section to regional locations from a central location. The State Government has provided funding to that end.
(10 -12) The Police Service advise that the total funding for Mounted Section is $2, 285, 900. The Mounted Section consists of 38 horses. The Mounted Section operates under one central budget. The Police Service prefers to deploy the Mounted Section to regional locations from a central location. The State Government has provided funding to that end.

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