POLICE — ASSAULTS
AGAINST
876. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the articles published in
The West Australian of 20 August 2019 titled, ''In the Line of Fire''
and ''Law & Disorder: attacks on cops rise as assaults haunt
officers''.
(1) How many ''assault police officer offences''
occurred in 2018–19?
(2) How does
the Western Australia Police Force support officers suffering from work-related
physical or mental injury?
(3) When will the Minister for Police introduce a compensation
scheme for officers injured in the line of duty?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for
Police.
(1)–(3)
The Western Australia Police Force advises that as of 25 July 2019, there were
975 reports of assaults on police officers during the financial year 2018–19.
Police officers who incur an injury or illness are supported with medical
benefits, leave and a range of other supports. Services provided through the
health and welfare branch have been improved to support injured or ill officers
and their families. The McGowan government has resourced the rollout of body
armour to protect our police officers. The McGowan government has also
delivered the $16 million police redress scheme and reformed section 8 of the
Police Act to ensure injured and ill officers can be retired with dignity. Work
is progressing on a police compensation scheme. The former government failed to
deliver on any of these critical issues during its terms in office.