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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 326 asked in the Legislative Council on 4 April 2019 by Hon Ken Baston

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

POLICE — CRIME RATES — BROOME

326. Hon KEN BASTON to the minister representing the Minister for Police:

I refer to today's Broome Advertiser article titled ''Petition calls for more action on crime sprees'', which described the recent significant increase in crime currently occurring in Broome.

(1) Has the minister met with any Kimberley-based organisations, government agencies or members of the Kimberley district police force to discuss these recent events?

(2) If yes to (1), with whom did the minister meet and what was the outcome of these meetings?

(3) Has the minister offered additional resources and support to Broome police during this period?

(4) What actions is the minister taking to address this crisis?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for Police.

(1)–(2) The minister, with the Commissioner of Police, has previously met with the following groups and others in the Kimberley to discuss juvenile crime and related community safety issues: Kimberley district police, including Superintendent Allan Adams; Broome PCYC, Annie Dann, centre manager; Broome Youth Creative Projects; Loretta Bin Omar, Kimberley regional manager, Australian Red Cross; Broome Youth and Community Hub, William Gee, program coordinator; Kimberley Night Fields coordinator, Eamon Rice; Beagle Bay community and Professor Harry Blagg, with Deputy Commissioner Dreibergs; Milliya Rumurra Aboriginal Corporation's alcohol and other drugs rehabilitation centre, with Deputy Commissioner Dreibergs.

Further, the Minister for Police will continue to meet with the Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Commissioner for Regional Western Australia to discuss community safety in the Kimberley.

(3)–(4) As the honourable member should be aware, the allocation of staff and resources is at the direction of the Commissioner of Police based on operational requirements. The Commissioner of Police has allocated additional funding to support operational activities, focusing on strategies to reduce the incidence of juvenile offending and antisocial behaviour in the Kimberley. A greater emphasis has been given to the introduction of youth crime intervention officers throughout the Kimberley. The Western Australia Police Force are members of the Kimberley juvenile justice working group, with outcomes including increased diversion of young people and the use of elders as part of the juvenile justice team process. Kimberley police continue to work with local Aboriginal leaders to develop co-designed approaches to historical police-related issues.