FREMANTLE POLICE STATION —
STAFF
271. Hon SIMON O'BRIEN to the minister representing
the Minister for Police:
(1) What changes
have there been in police staffing levels at Fremantle Police Station since
March 2017?
(2) More
specifically, what resources have at various times been applied to staffing
police bicycle patrols in Fremantle?
(3) What is the
government's response to widespread reports of an escalating incidence
of antisocial behaviour and crime in inner Fremantle?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police. The Western Australia Police Force advises the
following.
(1) District
superintendents are responsible for deploying their allocated resources within
their districts to deliver the best possible policing service for their local
community. Specific information relating to staffing levels at individual
police stations is not publicly released. In April 2018, the Commissioner of
Police announced details of a significant operational restructure of the Western
Australia Police Force. The four previous districts were divided into eight
districts, with 278 authorised full-time equivalents deployed to the new Fremantle
district.
(2)–(3) Over
recent years the Fremantle sub-district has recorded a reduction in verified
crime. Many initiatives and partnerships have been introduced within the
Fremantle central business district, focused towards collaborative working relationships
designed to improve community safety. This has included the establishment of
the Fremantle police CBD team, including officers on foot and bicycle patrol;
working with the City of Fremantle community safety team to respond to minor
incidents of antisocial behaviour and provide early engagement with people who
are homeless or who present with social dysfunction; building community circles
around social messaging groups between business, police and local government
for rapid response; an expanded CCTV network managed by the City of Fremantle;
and the establishment of the Fremantle police district mental health
co-response team.