❓ Opposition MP Zempilas questions the Minister for Police about rising violent crime statistics. The Minister defends the government's record, citing increased police resources and a decrease in overall crime rates since 2017.
⏳ Awaiting AnswerQoN 288Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Violent crime288.Mr Basil Zempilasto
the Minister for Police:I refer to rising
violent crime across our suburbs that even the government's own member for
Butler has complained about, and note that since 2021, offences against the
person are up by 49%, threatening behaviour is up by 107.2% and possession of a
weapon is up by 91.8%. Has the minister giving up on doing his job?Several members
interjected.Mr Reece Whitby replied:I have a plethora of
information to draw on in terms of how this government is tackling crime, getting
great results and putting more resources than ever before into police in
Western Australia. I am just getting started, Leader of the Opposition. I am
just getting started! This is a great job. I have a great police force in
Western Australia. We all enjoy the best police force in the country. It is
incredibly well resourced, incredibly intelligent and incredibly effective and is
getting great results.Leader of the
Opposition, the budget that was delivered last week delivered more than $8.7 billion
to the Western Australia Police Force—$8.7 billion. We have more police officers
in Western Australia than ever before. We have 7,400-plus officers. It is
actually an increase of about a thousand police officers since we came to power
in 2017. Our government invests considerably in technology in body-worn cameras
that help capture evidence and make the job of police more efficient.Several members interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:We give them the technology to be
able to stay in their vehicles and stay on patrol rather than always going back
to the station, so they are more likely to be out there and more efficient in
catching and prosecuting criminals.I would like to talk
about what happened before we came along.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:I would like to talk about what
happened before we came along. Since 2017, when this government came to power, crime
rates have decreased by about 20%. That is an astounding figure.Several members
interjected.Mr Reece Whitby:That is an astounding figure. That is
the number that the opposition does not want me to talk about. There has been a
20% decline in the crime rate in Western Australia since 2017, and in some of
those volume crime areas, the real numbers are actually lower than they were
back in 2016. Remember, 2016 was when crime peaked in Western Australia. We
have been reducing it ever since.I refer to some of
the big volume crime areas. Burglary offences are down by 66% since we have
been in government. Stealing motor vehicles is down by 41%.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:Property damage is down by 18.6%. We
are making massive inroads and changes. We have already had a significant
impact on crime in Western Australia—a 20% decline since you guys were in
government.There are areas in
which we are seeing more prosecutions for crime, and that is a good thing. We
are seeing more prosecutions for family and domestic violence. If the minister
responsible were well enough to be here today, she would tell members about the
massive investment across the board for family and domestic violence. It is
having a—Mr Basil Zempilas:Threatening behaviour is up
107%.Mr Reece Whitby:This is a serious matter. Family and
domestic violence is a scourge in our community. What this government has been
able to do is to give women the courage to come forward and report their
crimes. We are giving them responses. We are investing in facilities and
infrastructure for women who are fleeing family and domestic violence, and we
have seen in the budget just released that there are more women's refuges
across Western Australia in the regions, too. What we do not do, Leader of the
Opposition, is close women's refuges—Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:—and shut off the ability for them to
escape family and domestic violence.I am very proud of
being part of a government that is tackling all crime, including crimes against
the person.Ms Libby Mettam:Not violent crime.Mr Reece Whitby:I can tell the member for Vasse a
story about that. When we have more police who are better resourced and more
able to be on the scene of a crime, we are going to get more prosecutions.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:We see this again and again.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:We have a well-resourced police force
and more police officers than ever before out on the street. They are quicker
to the scene where crimes are happening. We see it every weekend in Northbridge,
where we have our surge in police. People will not be able to walk and turn in
Northbridge without seeing officers. There is massive CCTV coverage. There is
massive effort in areas where crime is happening. That is getting the result we
want, because we are seeing more prosecutions than ever before, simply because
there are more police than ever before doing their job. They are well
resourced. This is a good record. This government can stand proudly asa government that is behind and committed to our
police and is getting great results in law and order. There hasbeen a 20%
reduction in crime since you guys were in government. That speaks for itself.
Violent crime
288.Mr Basil Zempilasto
the Minister for Police:
I refer to rising
violent crime across our suburbs that even the government's own member for
Butler has complained about, and note that since 2021, offences against the
person are up by 49%, threatening behaviour is up by 107.2% and possession of a
weapon is up by 91.8%. Has the minister giving up on doing his job?
Several members
interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby replied:
I have a plethora of
information to draw on in terms of how this government is tackling crime, getting
great results and putting more resources than ever before into police in
Western Australia. I am just getting started, Leader of the Opposition. I am
just getting started! This is a great job. I have a great police force in
Western Australia. We all enjoy the best police force in the country. It is
incredibly well resourced, incredibly intelligent and incredibly effective and is
getting great results.
Leader of the
Opposition, the budget that was delivered last week delivered more than $8.7 billion
to the Western Australia Police Force—$8.7 billion. We have more police officers
in Western Australia than ever before. We have 7,400-plus officers. It is
actually an increase of about a thousand police officers since we came to power
in 2017. Our government invests considerably in technology in body-worn cameras
that help capture evidence and make the job of police more efficient.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:We give them the technology to be
able to stay in their vehicles and stay on patrol rather than always going back
to the station, so they are more likely to be out there and more efficient in
catching and prosecuting criminals.
I would like to talk
about what happened before we came along.
Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:I would like to talk about what
happened before we came along. Since 2017, when this government came to power, crime
rates have decreased by about 20%. That is an astounding figure.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby:That is an astounding figure. That is
the number that the opposition does not want me to talk about. There has been a
20% decline in the crime rate in Western Australia since 2017, and in some of
those volume crime areas, the real numbers are actually lower than they were
back in 2016. Remember, 2016 was when crime peaked in Western Australia. We
have been reducing it ever since.
I refer to some of
the big volume crime areas. Burglary offences are down by 66% since we have
been in government. Stealing motor vehicles is down by 41%.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:Property damage is down by 18.6%. We
are making massive inroads and changes. We have already had a significant
impact on crime in Western Australia—a 20% decline since you guys were in
government.
There are areas in
which we are seeing more prosecutions for crime, and that is a good thing. We
are seeing more prosecutions for family and domestic violence. If the minister
responsible were well enough to be here today, she would tell members about the
massive investment across the board for family and domestic violence. It is
having a—
Mr Basil Zempilas:Threatening behaviour is up
107%.
Mr Reece Whitby:This is a serious matter. Family and
domestic violence is a scourge in our community. What this government has been
able to do is to give women the courage to come forward and report their
crimes. We are giving them responses. We are investing in facilities and
infrastructure for women who are fleeing family and domestic violence, and we
have seen in the budget just released that there are more women's refuges
across Western Australia in the regions, too. What we do not do, Leader of the
Opposition, is close women's refuges—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:—and shut off the ability for them to
escape family and domestic violence.
I am very proud of
being part of a government that is tackling all crime, including crimes against
the person.
Ms Libby Mettam:Not violent crime.
Mr Reece Whitby:I can tell the member for Vasse a
story about that. When we have more police who are better resourced and more
able to be on the scene of a crime, we are going to get more prosecutions.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:We see this again and again.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:We have a well-resourced police force
and more police officers than ever before out on the street. They are quicker
to the scene where crimes are happening. We see it every weekend in Northbridge,
where we have our surge in police. People will not be able to walk and turn in
Northbridge without seeing officers. There is massive CCTV coverage. There is
massive effort in areas where crime is happening. That is getting the result we
want, because we are seeing more prosecutions than ever before, simply because
there are more police than ever before doing their job. They are well
resourced. This is a good record. This government can stand proudly asa government that is behind and committed to our
police and is getting great results in law and order. There hasbeen a 20%
reduction in crime since you guys were in government. That speaks for itself.
the Minister for Police:I refer to rising
violent crime across our suburbs that even the government's own member for
Butler has complained about, and note that since 2021, offences against the
person are up by 49%, threatening behaviour is up by 107.2% and possession of a
weapon is up by 91.8%. Has the minister giving up on doing his job?Several members
interjected.Mr Reece Whitby replied:I have a plethora of
information to draw on in terms of how this government is tackling crime, getting
great results and putting more resources than ever before into police in
Western Australia. I am just getting started, Leader of the Opposition. I am
just getting started! This is a great job. I have a great police force in
Western Australia. We all enjoy the best police force in the country. It is
incredibly well resourced, incredibly intelligent and incredibly effective and is
getting great results.Leader of the
Opposition, the budget that was delivered last week delivered more than $8.7 billion
to the Western Australia Police Force—$8.7 billion. We have more police officers
in Western Australia than ever before. We have 7,400-plus officers. It is
actually an increase of about a thousand police officers since we came to power
in 2017. Our government invests considerably in technology in body-worn cameras
that help capture evidence and make the job of police more efficient.Several members interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:We give them the technology to be
able to stay in their vehicles and stay on patrol rather than always going back
to the station, so they are more likely to be out there and more efficient in
catching and prosecuting criminals.I would like to talk
about what happened before we came along.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:I would like to talk about what
happened before we came along. Since 2017, when this government came to power, crime
rates have decreased by about 20%. That is an astounding figure.Several members
interjected.Mr Reece Whitby:That is an astounding figure. That is
the number that the opposition does not want me to talk about. There has been a
20% decline in the crime rate in Western Australia since 2017, and in some of
those volume crime areas, the real numbers are actually lower than they were
back in 2016. Remember, 2016 was when crime peaked in Western Australia. We
have been reducing it ever since.I refer to some of
the big volume crime areas. Burglary offences are down by 66% since we have
been in government. Stealing motor vehicles is down by 41%.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:Property damage is down by 18.6%. We
are making massive inroads and changes. We have already had a significant
impact on crime in Western Australia—a 20% decline since you guys were in
government.There are areas in
which we are seeing more prosecutions for crime, and that is a good thing. We
are seeing more prosecutions for family and domestic violence. If the minister
responsible were well enough to be here today, she would tell members about the
massive investment across the board for family and domestic violence. It is
having a—Mr Basil Zempilas:Threatening behaviour is up
107%.Mr Reece Whitby:This is a serious matter. Family and
domestic violence is a scourge in our community. What this government has been
able to do is to give women the courage to come forward and report their
crimes. We are giving them responses. We are investing in facilities and
infrastructure for women who are fleeing family and domestic violence, and we
have seen in the budget just released that there are more women's refuges
across Western Australia in the regions, too. What we do not do, Leader of the
Opposition, is close women's refuges—Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:—and shut off the ability for them to
escape family and domestic violence.I am very proud of
being part of a government that is tackling all crime, including crimes against
the person.Ms Libby Mettam:Not violent crime.Mr Reece Whitby:I can tell the member for Vasse a
story about that. When we have more police who are better resourced and more
able to be on the scene of a crime, we are going to get more prosecutions.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:We see this again and again.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Reece Whitby:We have a well-resourced police force
and more police officers than ever before out on the street. They are quicker
to the scene where crimes are happening. We see it every weekend in Northbridge,
where we have our surge in police. People will not be able to walk and turn in
Northbridge without seeing officers. There is massive CCTV coverage. There is
massive effort in areas where crime is happening. That is getting the result we
want, because we are seeing more prosecutions than ever before, simply because
there are more police than ever before doing their job. They are well
resourced. This is a good record. This government can stand proudly asa government that is behind and committed to our
police and is getting great results in law and order. There hasbeen a 20%
reduction in crime since you guys were in government. That speaks for itself.
Violent crime
288.Mr Basil Zempilasto
the Minister for Police:
I refer to rising
violent crime across our suburbs that even the government's own member for
Butler has complained about, and note that since 2021, offences against the
person are up by 49%, threatening behaviour is up by 107.2% and possession of a
weapon is up by 91.8%. Has the minister giving up on doing his job?
Several members
interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby replied:
I have a plethora of
information to draw on in terms of how this government is tackling crime, getting
great results and putting more resources than ever before into police in
Western Australia. I am just getting started, Leader of the Opposition. I am
just getting started! This is a great job. I have a great police force in
Western Australia. We all enjoy the best police force in the country. It is
incredibly well resourced, incredibly intelligent and incredibly effective and is
getting great results.
Leader of the
Opposition, the budget that was delivered last week delivered more than $8.7 billion
to the Western Australia Police Force—$8.7 billion. We have more police officers
in Western Australia than ever before. We have 7,400-plus officers. It is
actually an increase of about a thousand police officers since we came to power
in 2017. Our government invests considerably in technology in body-worn cameras
that help capture evidence and make the job of police more efficient.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:We give them the technology to be
able to stay in their vehicles and stay on patrol rather than always going back
to the station, so they are more likely to be out there and more efficient in
catching and prosecuting criminals.
I would like to talk
about what happened before we came along.
Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:I would like to talk about what
happened before we came along. Since 2017, when this government came to power, crime
rates have decreased by about 20%. That is an astounding figure.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby:That is an astounding figure. That is
the number that the opposition does not want me to talk about. There has been a
20% decline in the crime rate in Western Australia since 2017, and in some of
those volume crime areas, the real numbers are actually lower than they were
back in 2016. Remember, 2016 was when crime peaked in Western Australia. We
have been reducing it ever since.
I refer to some of
the big volume crime areas. Burglary offences are down by 66% since we have
been in government. Stealing motor vehicles is down by 41%.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:Property damage is down by 18.6%. We
are making massive inroads and changes. We have already had a significant
impact on crime in Western Australia—a 20% decline since you guys were in
government.
There are areas in
which we are seeing more prosecutions for crime, and that is a good thing. We
are seeing more prosecutions for family and domestic violence. If the minister
responsible were well enough to be here today, she would tell members about the
massive investment across the board for family and domestic violence. It is
having a—
Mr Basil Zempilas:Threatening behaviour is up
107%.
Mr Reece Whitby:This is a serious matter. Family and
domestic violence is a scourge in our community. What this government has been
able to do is to give women the courage to come forward and report their
crimes. We are giving them responses. We are investing in facilities and
infrastructure for women who are fleeing family and domestic violence, and we
have seen in the budget just released that there are more women's refuges
across Western Australia in the regions, too. What we do not do, Leader of the
Opposition, is close women's refuges—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:—and shut off the ability for them to
escape family and domestic violence.
I am very proud of
being part of a government that is tackling all crime, including crimes against
the person.
Ms Libby Mettam:Not violent crime.
Mr Reece Whitby:I can tell the member for Vasse a
story about that. When we have more police who are better resourced and more
able to be on the scene of a crime, we are going to get more prosecutions.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:We see this again and again.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Reece Whitby:We have a well-resourced police force
and more police officers than ever before out on the street. They are quicker
to the scene where crimes are happening. We see it every weekend in Northbridge,
where we have our surge in police. People will not be able to walk and turn in
Northbridge without seeing officers. There is massive CCTV coverage. There is
massive effort in areas where crime is happening. That is getting the result we
want, because we are seeing more prosecutions than ever before, simply because
there are more police than ever before doing their job. They are well
resourced. This is a good record. This government can stand proudly asa government that is behind and committed to our
police and is getting great results in law and order. There hasbeen a 20%
reduction in crime since you guys were in government. That speaks for itself.
AnswerView source ↗
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This question is awaiting a response from the Minister.
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