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.