❓ Question regarding altered firearm license application template letters and potential offences. Police confirm alterations occurred but are not an offence and resource intensive to quantify.
AnsweredQoN 3756Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a question without notice asked by Hon Rick Mazza to the Attorney General representing the Minister for Police, in the Legislative Council on 18 November 2015, in relation to the provisions
of section 11(2)(c) of the Firearms Act 1973 and answer to part 1, and ask: (a) when did the department become aware that the number of template letters received by Western Australia Police had been altered by some authors to include owner/manager (not owner) within the letter; (b) how many template letters received by Western Australia Police had been altered by some authors to include owner/manager (not owner) within the letter; (c) did people altering the template letters received by Western Australia Police commit an offence; (d) if yes to (c), what action was undertaken in respect of this offence; (e) was there evidence that the altering of the template letters received by Western Australia Police had been altered by a single source or multiple sources; and (f) if yes to a single source in (e), does this indicate an organised action to falsify the template letters?
of section 11(2)(c) of the Firearms Act 1973 and answer to part 1, and ask: (a) when did the department become aware that the number of template letters received by Western Australia Police had been altered by some authors to include owner/manager (not owner) within the letter; (b) how many template letters received by Western Australia Police had been altered by some authors to include owner/manager (not owner) within the letter; (c) did people altering the template letters received by Western Australia Police commit an offence; (d) if yes to (c), what action was undertaken in respect of this offence; (e) was there evidence that the altering of the template letters received by Western Australia Police had been altered by a single source or multiple sources; and (f) if yes to a single source in (e), does this indicate an organised action to falsify the template letters?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 February 2016
Responded by
Attorney General representing the Minister for Police
Response time
91 days
a) Approximately nine months ago it was detected that some template letters being presented had been altered.
b) The response required would take a significant amount of time and resources to collate and process. It is therefore not possible for police to obtain this information without significantly compromising other core activities.
c) Altering the template letter does not constitute an offence. The template letter is provided to an applicant via the WA Police website to assist in the application process. The template letter was designed to provide all the required information to an assessor during the assessment process. Applicants are not obligated to use this letter, and can use a personally drafted letter if they choose to do so, provided all the required information is included.
d) Not applicable.
e) No.
f) Not applicable.
b) The response required would take a significant amount of time and resources to collate and process. It is therefore not possible for police to obtain this information without significantly compromising other core activities.
c) Altering the template letter does not constitute an offence. The template letter is provided to an applicant via the WA Police website to assist in the application process. The template letter was designed to provide all the required information to an assessor during the assessment process. Applicants are not obligated to use this letter, and can use a personally drafted letter if they choose to do so, provided all the required information is included.
d) Not applicable.
e) No.
f) Not applicable.
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