❓ Question regarding the impact of Operation Clearance on imprisonment rates, with the Minister highlighting increased prison numbers, particularly for burglary offences, and a decrease in burglary rates.
AnsweredQoN 207Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the recent Operation Clearance campaign targeting burglaries. Will the minister advise on the impact this has had on imprisonment rates. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question and for his continuing interest in community safety matters. The Department of Justice has recently advised me that the Western Australia Police Service has focused on burglary largely through operations such as Operation Clearance. Also, its continued focus on domestic violence has led to a substantial increase in prison numbers in the past quarter and an overall increase for the year. The latest information received from the Department of Justice indicates an overall increase of 5.7 per cent in the average prison population between March 2003 and March 2004. The greatest increase in the number of prisoners was for burglary offences, and was in the order of 19.3 per cent. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for his question and for his continuing interest in community safety matters. The Department of Justice has recently advised me that the Western Australia Police Service has focused on burglary largely through operations such as Operation Clearance. Also, its continued focus on domestic violence has led to a substantial increase in prison numbers in the past quarter and an overall increase for the year. The latest information received from the Department of Justice indicates an overall increase of 5.7 per cent in the average prison population between March 2003 and March 2004. The greatest increase in the number of prisoners was for burglary offences, and was in the order of 19.3 per cent. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
I thank the member for his question and for his continuing interest in community safety matters. The Department of Justice has recently advised me that the Western Australia Police Service has focused on burglary largely through operations such as Operation Clearance. Also, its continued focus on domestic violence has led to a substantial increase in prison numbers in the past quarter and an overall increase for the year. The latest information received from the Department of Justice indicates an overall increase of 5.7 per cent in the average prison population between March 2003 and March 2004. The greatest increase in the number of prisoners was for burglary offences, and was in the order of 19.3 per cent. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
The Department of Justice has recently advised me that the Western Australia Police Service has focused on burglary largely through operations such as Operation Clearance. Also, its continued focus on domestic violence has led to a substantial increase in prison numbers in the past quarter and an overall increase for the year. The latest information received from the Department of Justice indicates an overall increase of 5.7 per cent in the average prison population between March 2003 and March 2004. The greatest increase in the number of prisoners was for burglary offences, and was in the order of 19.3 per cent. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for his question and for his continuing interest in community safety matters. The Department of Justice has recently advised me that the Western Australia Police Service has focused on burglary largely through operations such as Operation Clearance. Also, its continued focus on domestic violence has led to a substantial increase in prison numbers in the past quarter and an overall increase for the year. The latest information received from the Department of Justice indicates an overall increase of 5.7 per cent in the average prison population between March 2003 and March 2004. The greatest increase in the number of prisoners was for burglary offences, and was in the order of 19.3 per cent. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
I thank the member for his question and for his continuing interest in community safety matters. The Department of Justice has recently advised me that the Western Australia Police Service has focused on burglary largely through operations such as Operation Clearance. Also, its continued focus on domestic violence has led to a substantial increase in prison numbers in the past quarter and an overall increase for the year. The latest information received from the Department of Justice indicates an overall increase of 5.7 per cent in the average prison population between March 2003 and March 2004. The greatest increase in the number of prisoners was for burglary offences, and was in the order of 19.3 per cent. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
The Department of Justice has recently advised me that the Western Australia Police Service has focused on burglary largely through operations such as Operation Clearance. Also, its continued focus on domestic violence has led to a substantial increase in prison numbers in the past quarter and an overall increase for the year. The latest information received from the Department of Justice indicates an overall increase of 5.7 per cent in the average prison population between March 2003 and March 2004. The greatest increase in the number of prisoners was for burglary offences, and was in the order of 19.3 per cent. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Mr Speaker, the member for Nedlands keeps interjecting. She is on record as making the most ignorant comments on these matters. These figures highlight just how wrong she has been in nearly every comment she has made since she has had the shadow justice portfolio. There has been an increase in convictions for offences against the person of 9.8 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people remanded in custody, 44 per cent of whom were remanded for burglary offences. Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mr Speaker, this is sensationally good news. We already know that in the 10 months since we started the burglary campaign, the rate of burglary is down by some 15 per cent. Further than that, we know that as a result of these targeted operations by the Police Service, this reduction is flowing through into the prison system. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t you do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Is that a question or what? I was just asked why we did not do it. That is a good question. Guess who was in government then? Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why didn’t the police do it five years ago? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: If I could have done it from Opposition, I would have. Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mr Speaker, as usual, the kinds of comments we have heard from the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands have been just plain wrong. The figures absolutely indicate the Government’s commitment to cracking down on serious and repeat offenders. They clearly show that a person convicted of burglary offences can expect to go to jail. If a person is a serious and repeat offender - Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: - and I think the member for Nedlands might be, that person can no longer expect to get parole or early release. The statistics clearly show that our Government is sending a very clear message to those serious and repeat offenders: if they offend, they will go to jail. We are sending a message to those people who are involved in home burglary: more of them will be caught. Those messages are clearly being heeded, because the rate of home burglary has gone down in 10 months by some 15 per cent. In addition, the direct result of that campaign targeted at home burglars can be seen in the increase in the number of people in the prison system.
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