❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice seeks data on police briefs awaiting forensic results, court matter adjournments due to forensic delays, service level agreements with forensic agencies, and interstate forensic testing. The response indicates data limitations and clarifies agreements and interstate testing practices.
AnsweredQoN 1004Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) For each month July 2021–Oct 2025, how many police briefs were recorded as awaiting (provide counts and median days waiting at month-end): (a) PathWest DNA/biology results; (b) ChemCentre toxicology results; and (c) ChemCentre drug/trace results? (2) For the same period, how many listed court matters (committals/trials) did WA Police request to be vacated or adjourned citing outstanding forensic results: (a) Provide monthly counts by agency (PathWest vs ChemCentre) where known? (3) What Service Level Agreements (SLA) timeframes with each agency are recognised in WA Police operational targets: (a) Provide monthly SLA compliance observed on briefs (July 2021–Oct 2025)? (4) Since July 2021, how many cases/exhibits were sent interstate at WA Police request for timeliness reasons : (a) Provide lab, stream, volume and cost?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 December 2025
Responded by
Minister for Police
Response time
9 days
(1-2) The Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) are unable to provide a response to these questions as the information requested is not recorded in a searchable manner within the Prosecution System.
(3) The WAPF registered agreements with both the Chemistry Centre of Western Australia (CCWA) and PathWest Laboratory Medicine Western Australia (PWB). Turn-around-times are subject to assessment and definition of an assigned priority and both can be subject to change.
(a) As per Schedule 2 of the PathWest Service Level Agreement (SLA) between WA Police Force and PWB. Table 1 refers to the target turn-around times are to achieve a minimum of 70% compliance as follows:
PRIORITY
Serious Crime
Volume Crime
FR7
ASAP
Not applicable
FR6
2 Days
1 Day
FR5
1 Week
10 Days
FR4
2 Weeks
Not applicable
FR3
4 Weeks
Not applicable
FR2
8 Weeks
Not applicable
FR1
HOLD
HOLD
(b) ChemCentre Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is as per Annexure 1 of the MOU between WA Police Force and the CCWA:
PRIORITY
Routine
Urgent
HIGH7
ASAP
Immediately
HIGH6
24 hours
24 hours
HIGH5
5 working days
48 hours
MEDIUM4
10 working days
72 hours
MEDIUM3
20 working days
5 working days
LOW2
40 working days
5 working days
LOW1
As agreed by parties
5 working days
(4) Exhibits are only sent to another jurisdiction for analysis when the required testing is not available within Western Australia. The decision to transfer is based solely on the nature of the testing required, not on timeliness. In such cases, the most appropriate jurisdiction with the necessary capability is identified, and the exhibit is forwarded accordingly.
(a) N/A
(3) The WAPF registered agreements with both the Chemistry Centre of Western Australia (CCWA) and PathWest Laboratory Medicine Western Australia (PWB). Turn-around-times are subject to assessment and definition of an assigned priority and both can be subject to change.
(a) As per Schedule 2 of the PathWest Service Level Agreement (SLA) between WA Police Force and PWB. Table 1 refers to the target turn-around times are to achieve a minimum of 70% compliance as follows:
PRIORITY
Serious Crime
Volume Crime
FR7
ASAP
Not applicable
FR6
2 Days
1 Day
FR5
1 Week
10 Days
FR4
2 Weeks
Not applicable
FR3
4 Weeks
Not applicable
FR2
8 Weeks
Not applicable
FR1
HOLD
HOLD
(b) ChemCentre Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is as per Annexure 1 of the MOU between WA Police Force and the CCWA:
PRIORITY
Routine
Urgent
HIGH7
ASAP
Immediately
HIGH6
24 hours
24 hours
HIGH5
5 working days
48 hours
MEDIUM4
10 working days
72 hours
MEDIUM3
20 working days
5 working days
LOW2
40 working days
5 working days
LOW1
As agreed by parties
5 working days
(4) Exhibits are only sent to another jurisdiction for analysis when the required testing is not available within Western Australia. The decision to transfer is based solely on the nature of the testing required, not on timeliness. In such cases, the most appropriate jurisdiction with the necessary capability is identified, and the exhibit is forwarded accordingly.
(a) N/A
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