POLICE — BODY
SCANNERS
1244. Hon ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the use of body scanners
to reduce the need for intrusive strip searches.
(1) How many body scanners are
currently used by the Western Australia Police Force?
(2) Where are the scanners located?
(3) Are all individuals detained at
metropolitan police lock-ups subject to a body scan?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. This answer has been provided to me by the
Minister for Police. The Western Australia Police Force advises the following.
(1) The Western Australia Police
Force uses one body scanner.
(2) That scanner is located at Perth
watch house, Perth Police Centre, 2 Fitzgerald Street, Northbridge.
(3) No.
(4) All detainees
received at the Perth watch house are subject to a body scan unless there are
operational reasons why they cannot be, such as detainee behaviour and the
associated risks. A body search of a detainee may be required, deeming the body
scan unnecessary, based upon charges presented, detainee antecedents or alerts
regarding the detainee on the police database.