Opposition law/order policy a recycling of Govt schemes

Police Minister Graham Edwards has dismissed the Opposition's law and order policy as a recycling of Government initiatives announced by Premier Carmen Lawrence last week.

"They have merely reproduced the Government's ideas without adding value," Mr Edwards said.

"I can only congratulate the Opposition for having the good sense to recognise sensible policies thought up by other people.

"Hopefully, it indicates they are prepared for a bi-partisan approach to law and order issues and we can rely on their support when crucial legislation is introduced in Parliament."

Mr Edwards said establishment of a police board was already well down the track, with a report due shortly from the interim police board on setting up guidelines.

Other initiatives announced by the Opposition which were already part of Government policy were tougher sentencing laws, increased rights and compensation for victims of crime, expansion of community policing programs, stricter supervision of juvenile offenders released from detention and making parents more accountable for the consequences of their children's behaviour.

"There is, however, some muddled thinking on one or two issues by the Opposition," Mr Edwards said.

"For instance, they promise an extra 800 police officers when Western Australia already has the highest ratio of police to population of any State in Australia.

"Premier Carmen Lawrence has pledged to maintain that ratio and no-one can predict at this time how many extra police officers that may require over the next four years."

Mr Edwards said the Opposition also seemed to be confused over the idea of establishing a juvenile justice bureau.

"They say they will establish such a bureau, but elsewhere in their statement they say they will merge the juvenile justice bureau with the Law Department and the Department of Corrective Services to create a single Justice Ministry," he said.