More police available to support Government's Safer WA Campaign

11/5/00
MORE POLICE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT'S SAFER WA CAMPAIGN
Premier Richard Court said almost 100 more police officers would be released back to active policing as part of the State Government's commitment to the safety and security of all Western Australians.
Handing down the State Budget today Mr Court said the extra police would lend strong support to the Government's Safer WA campaign which had been an effective tool in reducing crime in Western Australia.
"The development of a Drug Court and continued spending on police communications and infrastructure are some of the major commitments in this year's Budget," Mr Court said.
"The Ministry of Justice has received a recurrent increase of $34 million to $359 million, while Police recurrent funding has increased 3.2 per cent to $395.6 million.
"With capital expenditure, $854 million will be spent on law and order this financial year."
Mr Court said more efficient policing and crime prevention had led to a reduction in some types of offences in the past year and the redirection of nearly 100 police from non-operational to active duties should lead to further improvement.
"The graduation this month of new statutory officers responsible for custody and transport during court hearings will release police officers for front-line crime fighting," he said.
Mr Court said that to meet the need for more prison cells because of the Government's 'get tough on crime' policies, $21.4 million would go towards the completion of the Acacia prison.
Acacia will be the State's first privately operated prison and will mean an additional 750 medium-security beds to the WA prison system. The refurbishment program of Bandyup women's prison will continue with $6 million of the $14.8 million program being expended in 2000-2001.
"An important part of the State Government's crime prevention policy are the Safer WA programs and in particular the safety of seniors in our community," the Premier said.
"This Government will continue to implement Safer WA initiatives and has allocated $1 million in this year's Budget to develop new strategies such as the recently launched Safer Seniors program."
The program helps seniors identify a number of small but important improvements which can make their homes safer and utilises the expertise of local police and firefighters.
"These are the type of programs the Government is encouraging through the Safer WA committees and the funding in this year's Budget will go towards the implementation of those ideas," Mr Court said.
He said an integral part of the Government's fight against crime was the establishment of a Drug Court.
"The Government will spend $5.5 million over the next four years on a specialised Drug Court which will divert some offenders into treatment programs, rather than jail, and will help reduce drug-related crime and substance abuse," he said.
The Police budget recognises the Government's commitment to the world-famous Delta Communications and Information Technology Project worth $124 million and this year stage two will include the implementation of Incident Mapping, Case Management Rejuvenation, Administration of Justice and the Incident Management Systems.
"These reforms of the main information database of the WA Police Service will improve decision-making processes through better access to accurate information and will allow police officers to divert more time to operational duties," Mr Court said.
"Since the Coalition came into Government, we have established 24 police complexes throughout Western Australia at a cost of $4.4 million and that will continue throughout this financial year with the opening and development of several police stations including Clarkson, Geraldton, Busselton, Bunbury, Kelleberrin and Kiara.
"This financial year will also see the start of construction for stage one of the WA Police Operational Support Facility at Midland and the development of the $45 million Police Academy at Joondalup."
The Premier said the continuing success of prisoner work camps in WA would be expanded over the next four years, with the Government committing $8.8 million to the scheme.
"Ensuring that prisoners make reparation to the community while also offering rehabilitation opportunities is a win-win situation for all involved in the work camps," Mr Court said.
He said that by the start of the next financial year six prisoner work camps would be operating in communities throughout WA.
Media contact: Casey Cahill 9222 9475