❓ Hon Aaron Stonehouse questions the Minister for Police regarding the loss/theft of seized cannabis plants from a police-guarded site in Anketell. The Minister confirms an internal inquiry found no unprofessional conduct.
AnsweredQoN 409Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — SEIZED CANNABIS PLANTS
409. Hon AARON STONEHOUSE to the minister
representing the Minister for Police:
I note the recent
seizure of a significant quantity of mature cannabis plants from a rural
property in Anketell, in the South Metropolitan Region, and reports, including
those in The West Australian of 20 January 2018, that in spite of those
seized plants being under heavy police guard, a large number of them were
subsequently lost or stolen. I also note that the WA Police Force has now had
just under four months to investigate this incident.
(1)
Has an internal WA police inquiry been conducted into the events of Thursday,
18 January, and the circumstances under which a large quantity of police
evidence went missing?
(2) If yes to (1),
what conclusions have been drawn?
(3) If no to (1),
why not?
(4)
What percentage of the overall haul is believed to have been lost and what was
its estimated street value?
(5)
Is it true that a total of three police cars and six officers were actively
guarding the plants at the time of their loss?
409. Hon AARON STONEHOUSE to the minister
representing the Minister for Police:
I note the recent
seizure of a significant quantity of mature cannabis plants from a rural
property in Anketell, in the South Metropolitan Region, and reports, including
those in The West Australian of 20 January 2018, that in spite of those
seized plants being under heavy police guard, a large number of them were
subsequently lost or stolen. I also note that the WA Police Force has now had
just under four months to investigate this incident.
(1)
Has an internal WA police inquiry been conducted into the events of Thursday,
18 January, and the circumstances under which a large quantity of police
evidence went missing?
(2) If yes to (1),
what conclusions have been drawn?
(3) If no to (1),
why not?
(4)
What percentage of the overall haul is believed to have been lost and what was
its estimated street value?
(5)
Is it true that a total of three police cars and six officers were actively
guarding the plants at the time of their loss?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of this question. The following information
has been provided to me by the Minister for Police.
The Western Australia
Police Force advise that the incident occurred on Thursday, 11 January 2018.
The WA Police Force further advises the following.
(1) Yes.
(2)
The investigation did not identify any unprofessional conduct in relation to
the way the crime scene was managed or guarded.
(3) Not applicable.
(4)
Approximately 61 per cent of the cannabis plants were not recovered on site.
The quality of the plants is not known and it is not possible to provide an
opinion on street value.
(5)
The number of officers actively guarding the scene varied at times during the
incident, as a result of shift changeovers and operational requirements.
honourable member for some notice of this question. The following information
has been provided to me by the Minister for Police.
The Western Australia
Police Force advise that the incident occurred on Thursday, 11 January 2018.
The WA Police Force further advises the following.
(1) Yes.
(2)
The investigation did not identify any unprofessional conduct in relation to
the way the crime scene was managed or guarded.
(3) Not applicable.
(4)
Approximately 61 per cent of the cannabis plants were not recovered on site.
The quality of the plants is not known and it is not possible to provide an
opinion on street value.
(5)
The number of officers actively guarding the scene varied at times during the
incident, as a result of shift changeovers and operational requirements.
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