Tough home burglary laws come into force

• Major election commitment delivered to make West Australians safer

• Mandatory sentences for serious and serial home invaders passes Parliament

• Three strike burglary laws tightened 

From this weekend, Western Australians will feel safer after the Liberal National Government's tough home invasion and burglary laws came into force.

It comes as the State Government gave a timely warning to residents across the State that they had a duty to be vigilant and lock doors and windows at home, particularly at night during the summer months.

Premier Colin Barnett said the toughest penalties in Australia were now in place, meaning mandatory sentencing laws for serial home burglars had been tightened.

"The Liberal National Government promised West Australians that we would be tough on crime and we have delivered on that commitment," Mr Barnett said.

These tough new laws are about the victims of home burglary and home invasions. They ensure that the people who break into homes and terrorise and attack innocent people get the punishment they deserve.

From this weekend, legislation for mandated minimum jail terms of 75 per cent of the maximum sentence for an adult offender who commits serious physical or sexual assault during a home burglary becomes law. This means:

• an offender who breaks into a house and rapes someone will face a minimum of 15 years jail
• an offender who breaks into a house and physically assaults someone causing serious harm will face a minimum of seven years, six months jail
• an offender who breaks into a house and indecently assaults someone will face a minimum of five years, three months jail. 

Police Minister Liza Harvey said the three strike rules would also be tightened to stop offenders being able to have all their offences bundled together as one strike.

"Under the new laws, if an offender has committed three burglaries, on three separate days that is three strikes and they're going to jail," the Minister said.

"We know that the majority of home invasions are committed by prolific offenders. To get these offenders off the streets and into a prison cell will help burglary rates decrease."

Mrs Harvey said that all West Australians had a part to play in reducing the incidents of home burglary.

"Keep your car keys out of sight, many home burglaries are motivated by car theft," she said.

Fact File

• The laws came into effect at 12.01am Saturday, October 31 

Premier's office - 6552 5000

Police Minister's office - 6552 5900