CRIME AND ANTISOCIAL
BEHAVIOUR — CARNARVON
644. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Police:
I have a supplementary question. Yes
or no—would police officers in Carnarvon benefit from having a safe
space to take vulnerable children, which would help reduce their workload?
Mr P. PAPALIA replied:
I
thank the member. I leave policing to police. I leave police operations and the
manner of delivery of those services to the Commissioner of Police
because that is his job, and that is actually the law. It is not right, and it
would not be right, for me to ever try to direct the police on how they should
conduct their operations and what they should do with the resources they are
provided with. I can tell the member that they are better resourced, better led
and better staffed, and have higher numbers and more capability, than ever
before, and certainly far more than when the member's party was in
office. Her party neglected Carnarvon and that electorate and, particularly
with respect to policing, showed very little interest. But I do not try to tell
the commissioner how to do his job. If ever the Commissioner of Police requires
additional resources, he will approach me.
One thing that I can confirm is that
Operation Regional Shield is the means by which the police are supported to deliver whatever additional resources are required
anywhere in the regions, including in Carnarvon. Regional Shield is in
operation right now. Assets, officers and capability will be delivered by the
commissioner in accordance with his requirements under the banner of Regional
Shield wherever they are required. I am sure that if they are required in
Carnarvon, they will be delivered.
The SPEAKER: Members, that
concludes question time.