❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the effectiveness of police presence on roads in reducing fatalities, the focus on speeding fines versus police numbers, and requests increased road blitzes. The Minister's response emphasizes perceived apprehension risk, automated enforcement, and existing police initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 2121Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Can the Minister inform the House -
(1) Is there any scientific evidence, internationally or nationally, that proves that a strong police presence/visibility on the roads reduces the death toll?
(a) If so, what does that evidence indicate?
(2) Why is the Government focussing on increasing speeding fines whilst neglecting police numbers on the roads?
(3) Will the Minister ensure a series of road blitzes over the next month to increase police visibility on our roads?
(1) Is there any scientific evidence, internationally or nationally, that proves that a strong police presence/visibility on the roads reduces the death toll?
(a) If so, what does that evidence indicate?
(2) Why is the Government focussing on increasing speeding fines whilst neglecting police numbers on the roads?
(3) Will the Minister ensure a series of road blitzes over the next month to increase police visibility on our roads?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2007
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
42 days
(a) Research shows that the success of enforcement is dependent on its ability to act as a meaningful deterrent to unsafe behaviour by road users. To achieve this, the primary focus should be on increasing surveillance levels and methods to ensure that perceived apprehension risk is high, that is, "anywhere, anytime". Evidence suggests that increasing the actual level of enforcement activity is the most effective means of increasing the perceived risk of apprehension. The most cost-effective way of achieving this is through the use of automated enforcement devices, on road policing and the use of publicity to support enforcement operations. (2) The assertion in the question is false. Recent initiatives introduced by the Western Australia Police have contributed to police having a greater traffic enforcement presence on WA roads. For example, the Western Australia Police have introduced the Frontline First strategy of policing which has returned a considerable number of police officers to frontline operational policing, further enhancing police presence and visibility within the community. In late 2004 the Commissioner of Police announced the establishment of the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) to specifically police traffic laws. TEG conducts specialised traffic patrols in high visibility vehicles and has a no-tolerance approach toward any person who breaks traffic laws or drives in a dangerous and anti-social fashion. TEG patrols expanded into regional Western Australia in mid-2006, to complement the traffic work being done by regional police districts. (3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
Evidence suggests that increasing the actual level of enforcement activity is the most effective means of increasing the perceived risk of apprehension. The most cost-effective way of achieving this is through the use of automated enforcement devices, on road policing and the use of publicity to support enforcement operations. (2) The assertion in the question is false. Recent initiatives introduced by the Western Australia Police have contributed to police having a greater traffic enforcement presence on WA roads. For example, the Western Australia Police have introduced the Frontline First strategy of policing which has returned a considerable number of police officers to frontline operational policing, further enhancing police presence and visibility within the community. In late 2004 the Commissioner of Police announced the establishment of the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) to specifically police traffic laws. TEG conducts specialised traffic patrols in high visibility vehicles and has a no-tolerance approach toward any person who breaks traffic laws or drives in a dangerous and anti-social fashion. TEG patrols expanded into regional Western Australia in mid-2006, to complement the traffic work being done by regional police districts. (3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
(2) The assertion in the question is false. Recent initiatives introduced by the Western Australia Police have contributed to police having a greater traffic enforcement presence on WA roads. For example, the Western Australia Police have introduced the Frontline First strategy of policing which has returned a considerable number of police officers to frontline operational policing, further enhancing police presence and visibility within the community. In late 2004 the Commissioner of Police announced the establishment of the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) to specifically police traffic laws. TEG conducts specialised traffic patrols in high visibility vehicles and has a no-tolerance approach toward any person who breaks traffic laws or drives in a dangerous and anti-social fashion. TEG patrols expanded into regional Western Australia in mid-2006, to complement the traffic work being done by regional police districts. (3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
In late 2004 the Commissioner of Police announced the establishment of the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) to specifically police traffic laws. TEG conducts specialised traffic patrols in high visibility vehicles and has a no-tolerance approach toward any person who breaks traffic laws or drives in a dangerous and anti-social fashion. TEG patrols expanded into regional Western Australia in mid-2006, to complement the traffic work being done by regional police districts. (3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
(3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
Evidence suggests that increasing the actual level of enforcement activity is the most effective means of increasing the perceived risk of apprehension. The most cost-effective way of achieving this is through the use of automated enforcement devices, on road policing and the use of publicity to support enforcement operations. (2) The assertion in the question is false. Recent initiatives introduced by the Western Australia Police have contributed to police having a greater traffic enforcement presence on WA roads. For example, the Western Australia Police have introduced the Frontline First strategy of policing which has returned a considerable number of police officers to frontline operational policing, further enhancing police presence and visibility within the community. In late 2004 the Commissioner of Police announced the establishment of the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) to specifically police traffic laws. TEG conducts specialised traffic patrols in high visibility vehicles and has a no-tolerance approach toward any person who breaks traffic laws or drives in a dangerous and anti-social fashion. TEG patrols expanded into regional Western Australia in mid-2006, to complement the traffic work being done by regional police districts. (3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
(2) The assertion in the question is false. Recent initiatives introduced by the Western Australia Police have contributed to police having a greater traffic enforcement presence on WA roads. For example, the Western Australia Police have introduced the Frontline First strategy of policing which has returned a considerable number of police officers to frontline operational policing, further enhancing police presence and visibility within the community. In late 2004 the Commissioner of Police announced the establishment of the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) to specifically police traffic laws. TEG conducts specialised traffic patrols in high visibility vehicles and has a no-tolerance approach toward any person who breaks traffic laws or drives in a dangerous and anti-social fashion. TEG patrols expanded into regional Western Australia in mid-2006, to complement the traffic work being done by regional police districts. (3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
In late 2004 the Commissioner of Police announced the establishment of the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) to specifically police traffic laws. TEG conducts specialised traffic patrols in high visibility vehicles and has a no-tolerance approach toward any person who breaks traffic laws or drives in a dangerous and anti-social fashion. TEG patrols expanded into regional Western Australia in mid-2006, to complement the traffic work being done by regional police districts. (3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
(3) Police are continually implementing road campaigns to maintain the effort against the road toll. These campaigns are ongoing and are supported by funding from the Office of Road Safety (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) which provides funds for statewide campaigns over and above normal police traffic duties.
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