Supporting and protecting the community - State Budget 2014-15: Covert cameras to help in war on hoons

• State Government to invest in new specialised covert hoon cameras

• $170,000 over four years for the purchase of cameras

WA Police will now be armed with state-of-the-art covert cameras to help fight the scourge of hoon driving in Perth's suburbs.

Making a pre-Budget announcement, Police Minister Liza Harvey said the covert hoon cameras would help police to capture those motorists who drove recklessly and endangered the lives of West Australians.

"People are sick and tired of hearing cars hooning up and down their suburban streets," Mrs Harvey said.

"These new cameras will have the ability to be hidden in known hoon hotspots and will capture those vehicles in the act."

The Minister encouraged anyone who had ongoing hoon issues in their suburb to contact WA Police to record details of the incident.

"The message to anybody thinking of driving recklessly in our suburbs is now clear.  We will catch you with these new cameras and we will take your car off you," she said.

Treasurer Mike Nahan said the cameras came at a cost of just $170,000 which represented outstanding value for taxpayers given this was such a significant issue in Perth's suburbs.

In its first term of Government, the Liberal National Government spent a record $272million on police facilities and equipment, including the new $93million Perth Police Complex, $142million for radio networks, $20million for a crime-fighting helicopter and 50 new high-tech police cars.

      Fact File

• Under the Liberal National Government, WA has had the toughest anti-hoon legislation in the country, cracking down on street racing, excessive noise, reckless driving and burnouts

• The Government has introduced tough mandatory sentencing legislation to punish hoons who drive recklessly while evading police

 Minister's office - 6552 5900