The Western Australia Police Force, colloquially WAPOL, provides

police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...

services throughout the state of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

, an area of 2.5 million square kilometres, the world's largest non-federated area of jurisdiction, with a population of 2.66 million, of which 2.11 million reside in the

Perth Metropolitan Region The Perth metropolitan region or the Perth metropolitan area is the administrative area and geographical extent of the Western Australian capital city of Perth and its conurbation. It generally includes the coastal strip from Two Rocks in th ...

History

Early history

The genesis of the police was the appointment of a

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Stirling Stirling (; sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea ) is a city in central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the royal citadel, the medieval old town with its me ...

on 18 June 1829, as part of the proclamation of the

Swan River Colony The Swan River Colony, also known as the Swan River Settlement, or just Swan River, was a British colony established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. This initial settlement place on the Swan River was soon named Perth, and it ...

. The proclamation provided for the appointment of a sheriff having under his direction a high constable,

constables A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

bailiff A bailiff (from Middle English baillif, Old French ''baillis'', ''bail'' "custody") is a manager, overseer or custodian – a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. Bailiffs are of various kinds and their offi ...

s and surveyors of

highways A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks. In some areas of the United States, it is used as an equivalent term to controlled-access ...

. The sheriff still exists as an officer of the Western Australian Justice Department—no longer having jurisdiction over police or highways. The sheriff retains responsibility for enforcement of court judgments and the administration of jury service. Police continue to carry out sheriff and bailiff duties, particularly in remote country locations. Early colonial policemen were recruited by

magistrates The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

and worked part-time. They were paid only for specific tasks, such as one

shilling The shilling is a historical coin, and the name of a unit of modern currencies formerly used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, other British Commonwealth countries and Ireland, where they were generally equivalent to 12 pence o ...

for serving a summons. By 1830, there were fifteen part-time constables in the state, of whom five worked in Perth. A mounted force was established in 1834, proving unpopular with citizens on the grounds that it was not efficient and was being paid out of their taxes for duties which the military should be performing. It was involved in the " Pinjarra Massacre", in which Captain Ellis, the police superintendent, was killed together with a large number of

Aboriginal people Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

. The first full-time constable for Perth was appointed in 1840. The Legislative Council passed a police ordinance in 1849 that outlined police powers and responsibilities. An organised police force was formally established in 1853.

Convict period

After

convicts A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison". Convicts are often also known as "prisoners" or "inmates" or by the slang term "con", while a common label for former convict ...

started arriving in the colony in 1849, the police acquired the duties of registering and supervising

ticket-of-leave A ticket of leave was a document of parole issued to convicts who had shown they could now be trusted with some freedoms. Originally the ticket was issued in Britain and later adapted by the United States, Canada, and Ireland. Jurisdictions ...

men. By 1870, after transportation had ceased, some 1,244 ticket-of-leave men had to be supervised by 146 police employees. Applicants for police service were required to be aged under forty,

literate Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, huma ...

and physically fit. Leave was difficult to obtain and officers were not to appear in public when out of

uniform A uniform is a variety of clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, se ...

. Until the end of the nineteenth century, the monthly pay day was marked by a parade with band. A

Criminal Investigation Department The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is the branch of a police force to which most plainclothes detectives belong in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth nations. A force's CID is distinct from its Special Branch (though officers of b ...

was set up in 1873, although two

detectives A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads the ...

had been sent out from

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

in 1854. A

fingerprint A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. Moisture and grease on a finger result in fingerprints on surfac ...

bureau was set up in 1902. Discussions of female police officers were held in October 1915 but remained unfunded. Mrs Helen Blanche Dugdale (1876–1952) and Miss Laura Ethel Chipper (1879–1978) were appointed in August 1917 to commence duties on 1 September 1917 as the first two female officers.

Organisation

The Police Headquarters is located in

East Perth East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sunrise, Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from ...

overlooking

the Causeway The Causeway is an arterial traffic crossing in Perth, Western Australia, linking the inner-city suburbs of East Perth and Victoria Park. It is carried over the Swan River at the eastern end of Perth Water by two bridges on either side of He ...

, near the

WACA Ground The WACA (formally the WACA Ground) is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. The stadium's name derives from the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association. The WACA has been referred to as Wester ...

. The 1960s curved building also housed the former East Perth Lockup. and a magistrates courtroom. The structure is entered on the State Heritage Register. Recruits are trained at the Western Australian Police Academy at

Joondalup Joondalup () is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, approximately north of Perth's central business district. It contains the central business district of the regional City of Joondalup and acts as the primary urban centre of Perth's outer ...

. Previously, the academy was located at Maylands, in premises still used by various units including the

mounted Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...

and K-9 (police dog) sections. The command structure has the state divided into three regions and sub-divided into fourteen districts. there were 36 metropolitan and 123 regional police stations. The highest-ranking officer is the Commissioner of Police. , the Commissioner is Col Blanch. There is an Assistant Commissioner (Professional Standards), a Deputy Commissioner (Operations), a Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Services) and an executive director.{{cite web, url=http://www.police.wa.gov.au/Aboutus/Annualreport/tabid/935/Default.aspx, title=Western {{Webarchive, url=https://www.police.wa.gov.au/404?item=%2faboutus%2fannualreport%2ftabid%2f935%2fdefault&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=wwwPolice , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724074125/https://www.police.wa.gov.au/404?item=%2faboutus%2fannualreport%2ftabid%2f935%2fdefault&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=wwwPolice , archive-date=2022-07-24 , date=24 July 2022 Australia Police Force, 2013 Annual Report, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109191741/http://www.police.wa.gov.au/ABOUTUS/AnnualReport/tabid/935/Default.aspx , archive-date=9 November 2013, website=police.wa.gov.au{{rp, p.6 Politically, the service comes within the portfolio of the Minister for Police.{{rp, 19 A number of specialist units have been established, including the Tactical Response Group (TRG), Dog Squad (K9), Gang Crime Squad, Crime Investigation and Intelligence Services, Water Police, Traffic Enforcement Group, Specialist Police Motorcycle Unit, Regional Operations Group, Police Air Wing, Liquor Enforcement Unit and the

Gold Stealing Detection Unit The Gold Stealing Detection Unit (GSDU), or Gold Stealing Detective Squad (GSDS), is a special unit of the Western Australian Police, based in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. It investigates criminal activity and allegations at all stages of th ...

Personnel

{{As of, 2021, some 7,272

police officer A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...

s were employed, including auxiliary officers and Aboriginal liaison officers; together with about 2,291 police staff.{{rp, 7 (Police staff includes public servants and wages employees, but not school street-crossing guards.) {{As of, 2021, females constituted 25.0% of the police officers, including three of 12 senior officers.{{rp, 219

Police auxiliary officers

The Western Australia Police have Police Auxiliary Officers, members of staff who are employed to support WA Police officers through the admission, custody and release of detainees in the Perth Watch House and other station-based lock-ups, including the supervision and transferring of detainees to court and for medical treatment in hospitals. Other duties include managing and handling drugs and firearms, processing property and exhibits and a range of station based support tasks. They are distinguishable by their maroon epaulettes, white name patches and their uniforms display 'Auxiliary Officer' instead of 'Police'.{{cn, date=July 2022 Police Auxiliary Officers who are tasked with protective service duties are authorised to carry a firearm and a

Taser A taser is an electroshock weapon used to incapacitate people, allowing them to be approached and handled in an unresisting and thus safe manner. It is sold by Axon, formerly TASER International. It fires two small barbed darts intended to ...

and are equipped with telescopic batons, handcuffs and Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray. They have limited police powers and training lasts 12 weeks at the WA Police Academy.

Regional Operations Group

Created in 2004 the Regional Operations Group provides WAPOL with a specialist public order capability. The unit is split into three sub-units, North, Central, and South. Their main role is attendance at Out of Control Gatherings (O.O.C.G.), to assist police officers requesting backup when none is available locally, or as an immediate response to serious crime.{{citation needed, date=August 2020 Regional Operations Group officers undergo intensive public-order training and typically carry extra equipment whenever they are on duty. The group is now also issued with

AR-15 An AR-15-style rifle is any lightweight semi-automatic rifle based on the Colt AR-15 design. The original ArmaLite AR-15 is a scaled-down derivative of Eugene Stoner's ArmaLite AR-10 design. The then Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation d ...

style semi-automatic rifles for counter-terrorism measures.

Perth police complex

In 2013 the organisation opened a new inner-city facility at 2 Fitzgerald Street, Northbridge. Accommodating up to 500 police officers, the complex includes the Perth Police Station, the Central Metropolitan District Office, the Northbridge Magistrate's Court and a new state-of-the-art Perth Watch House. Before long, the police

union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

complained that insufficient staff had been assigned to the new lock-up in the context of state government budget constraints.

Commissioner of police

{{See also, List of commissioners of the Western Australia Police Force Traditionally the Commissioner came from within the service though, in 1994 and 1999, police commissioners were head-hunted from outside WA Police ranks. In 1994, Victorian Bob Falconer APM was imported from the Victoria Police where he had been a deputy commissioner. Falconer was effective in implementing the Delta Program designed to achieve organisational and cultural change. Falconer later argued that internal measures were inadequate and that a standing crime and corruption commission was necessary to combat police corruption. In 1999

Barry Matthews Barry Matthews (born 1946) was Chief Executive of the New Zealand Department of Corrections from 2005 to 2010. Prior to that he was a long-serving police officer. Matthews worked in the public sectors of New Zealand and Australia for almost f ...

, then a deputy commissioner of the

New Zealand Police The New Zealand Police ( mi, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa) is the national police service and principal law enforcement agency of New Zealand, responsible for preventing crime, enhancing public safety, bringing offenders to justice, and maintai ...

, was appointed and served until 2004.{{cite web , url=http://www.police.wa.gov.au/Aboutus/Ourhistory/PoliceCommissioners3/tabid/1064/Default.aspx , title=WA Police Commissioners: 1955-present , access-date=17 March 2012 , archive-date=12 May 2012 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512012222/http://www.police.wa.gov.au/Aboutus/Ourhistory/PoliceCommissioners3/tabid/1064/Default.aspx , url-status=live Matthews was, however, succeeded in June 2004 by

Karl O'Callaghan Karl Joseph O'Callaghan (born 1956 in England) served from 2004 to 2017 as Commissioner of the Western Australia Police. Biography O'Callaghan was born in 1956 in England. In 1970 he moved with his family to Australia where he attended Kalamun ...

APM, PhD who had been employed in the WA service since age 17 and was one of the service's first officers to achieve a PhD. O'Callaghan retired on 14 August 2017 and was succeeded by Chris Dawson.Menagh, Joanna
WA's new police commissioner named as Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission boss Chris Dawson
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909051847/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-01/new-wa-police-commissioner-announced/8763406 , date=9 September 2017 . ''

ABC News ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...

'', 1 August 2017. Accessed 11 September 2017 Chris Dawson stepped down as police commissioner in July 2022 to become Governor of Western Australia. He was replaced by Col Blanch on 15 July 2022.

Ranks

{{See also, Australian police ranks {, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" , - ,

Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

, , Constable
First Class, , Senior
Constable, ,

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

, , Senior
Sergeant, ,

Inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...

, ,

Superintendent Superintendent may refer to: *Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank *Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator *Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...

, , Commander, , Assistant
Commissioner, , Deputy
Commissioner, , Commissioner , - , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Equipment and weaponry

All officers are armed when on duty. The standard firearm is the

Glock 22 Glock is a brand of polymer- framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H. The firearm entered Austrian military and police service by 1982 after it was the ...

.40-calibre pistol. Officers also carry the X-26

Electronic Control Device (ECD), often described in the media as a " less-than-lethal-force" option. Prior to the Glock transition officers were armed with a

.38 Special The .38 Special, also commonly known as .38 S&W Special (not to be confused with .38 S&W), .38 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Spl, .38 Spc, (pronounced "thirty-eight special"), or 9x29mmR is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & ...

Smith & Wesson Model 10 The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a K-frame revolver of worldwide popularity. In production since 1899 ...

as well as some units using the .40 S&W Smith & Wesson Sigma. Because of the weight of equipment carried on officers' belts, Western Australian uniformed officers are being progressively issued with equipment vests fitted with pockets to safely contain equipment including ammunition magazines for the service pistol,

pepper spray Pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum spray, OC spray, capsaicin spray, or capsicum spray is a lachrymatory agent (a compound that irritates the eyes to cause a burning sensation, pain, and temporary blindness) used in policing, riot control, cr ...

baton Baton may refer to: Stick-like objects *Baton, a type of club *Baton (law enforcement) *Baston (weapon), a type of baton used in Arnis and Filipino Martial Arts *Baton charge, a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people *Baton (conductin ...

handcuffs Handcuffs are Physical restraint, restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists in proximity to each other. They comprise two parts, linked together by a Link chain, chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each cuff has a rotating arm whi ...

, radio and mobile phone. The vests are navy blue in colour, although a fluorescent yellow version is worn for some operations. Further specialised equipment is utilised by the TRG, as detailed in that section below.

Vehicles

File:2016 Holden Commodore (VF II MY17) SV6 sedan, Western Australia Police (2018-11-27).jpg, Holden VF II SV6 Commodore sedan – Traffic Enforcement Group 2 File:2018 Kia Stinger (cropped).jpg, Kia Stinger File:2016 Holden Ute (VF II MY16) utility, Western Australia Police (2018-08-06).jpg, Holden VF Ute - transport van File:2017 Toyota HiLux (GUN126R) SR 4-door utility, Western Australia Police (2018-08-06).jpg, Western Australia Police Toyota Hilux paddy wagon File:2017 Ford Falcon (FG X) XR6 sedan, Western Australia Police (2018-07-19).jpg, Ford Falcon FG X XR6 sedan – General policing patrol File:Western Australia Police motorcycle.jpg, Marked Yamaha FJR1300 Traffic Enforcement Group Motorcycle File:TW152, Fremantle, 2020 (01).jpg, Water Police 2021/22 Skoda Superb Sportline Wagon

Honours and awards

{{refimprove section, date=July 2022 Recognition of the bravery and diligent service of Western Australia Police Force personnel is through the awarding of honours and awards. Personnel are eligible to receive awards both as a part of the

Australian honours system The Australian honours and awards system refers to all Order (distinction), orders, decorations, and medals, as instituted by letters patent from the Monarchy of Australia, Monarch of Australia and countersigned by the Australian prime minister a ...

and the internal Western Australia Police Force honours system.

Australian honours system

Western Australia Police Force personnel are eligible for awards under the Australian honours system, including: * Australian Bravery Awards – Cross of Valour, Star of Courage, Bravery Medal,

Commendation for Brave Conduct The Commendation for Brave Conduct is a bravery decoration awarded to Australians. It is awarded for an act of bravery that is worthy of recognition. The Commendation for Brave Conduct was created in February 1975. The decorations recognise acts ...

, and

Group Bravery Citation The Group Bravery Citation is a bravery decoration awarded to Australians. It is awarded for a collective act of bravery by a group of people in extraordinary circumstances that is considered worthy of recognition. The Group Bravery Citation was ...

. *

Australian Police Medal The Australian Police Medal (APM) is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force. The APM was introduced in 1986, and replaced the Imperial Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry and Queen's Police Medal for Distinguis ...

– for distinguished service in the office of constable.{{rp, 59 * Police Overseas Service Medal – for service with international peace-keeping organisations and/or service following requests for assistance from foreign governments. *

Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those who perform Humanitarian aid, humanitarian service in a foreign country, in particular those working in dangerous environments ...

– for humanitarian service overseas. * National Emergency Medal – for sustained service during specified dates in specified places in response to nationally significant emergencies within Australia. *

National Police Service Medal The National Police Service Medal (NPSM) is a special service award within the Australian honours system to provide "recognition for the unique contribution and significant commitment of those persons who have given ethical and diligent service a ...

– for 15 years' ethical and diligent service in the office of constable. * National Medal – for 15 years' good conduct in operational service as members of specified organisations which serve or protect the community at hazard to themselves.

Western Australia Police Force honours system

* Cross for Bravery - Awarded to Western Australia Police Force personnel for an act of most conspicuous courage whereby the person placed themselves at peril and risk of significant personal injury or death.{{rp, 60 *

Western Australia Police Star The Western Australia Police Star was established to recognise Western Australia Police personnel who are killed or seriously injured whilst carrying out their primary functions on or off duty. Criteria The medal is awarded to Western Australia P ...

– Awarded to Western Australia Police Force personnel who are killed or seriously injured whilst carrying out their primary functions on or off duty.{{rp, 59 * Commissioner's Medal for Excellence - Awarded to Western Australia Police Force personnel who have consistently contributed to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the Western Australia Police.{{rp, 59 *

Western Australia Police Medal The Western Australia Police Medal was established to recognise Western Australia Police personnel who have completed sustained diligent and ethical service to the Western Australia Police. Criteria The medal is awarded to Western Australia Polic ...

- Awarded to Western Australia Police Force personnel to recognise the sustained diligent and ethical service of its personnel. * Special Commendation{{rp, 60 - Awarded to Western Australia Police Force personnel for an act of bravery whereby the person placed themselves at risk of personal injury, the action exceeding that might reasonably be expected. * Commendation{{rp, 60 - Awarded to Western Australia Police Force personnel for meritorious conduct and devotion to duty under stressful conditions, whilst in the execution of his or her duty. * Commissioner's Group Citation for Conduct - Awarded to a team/unit/district for displaying a significant level of commitment, dedication and professionalism to their duty in extenuating circumstances that reflects credit upon the Western Australia Police. * Certificate of Outstanding Performance{{rp, 60 – Awarded for consistent outstanding performance by both individuals and teams at a District/Divisional and Regional/Portfolio level. * Certificate of Appreciation{{rp, 60 – Awarded for significant contributions by individuals or community groups who, in partnership with Western Australia Police, have provided innovative, quality police services necessary to create a safer and more secure Western Australia.

Tactical Response Group

The Tactical Response Group (TRG) is a police tactical group, a component of the Counter Terrorism and Emergency Response Command. Since 1978, the Australian Government's National Anti-Terrorism Plan has required each state police force to maintain a specialised

counter-terrorist Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or el ...

and hostage-rescue unit. TRG officers are trained for high-risk situations and provide support to police and other agencies.{{cite web , url=http://www.stepforward.wa.gov.au/your-career/tactical-response-group.html , title=Tactical Response Group , access-date=17 March 2012 , archive-date=20 March 2012 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320094803/http://www.stepforward.wa.gov.au/your-career/tactical-response-group.html , url-status=live (W.A. Police recruitment information site) Accessed 17 March 2012 Such situations include dealing with armed offenders, attending

siege A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition warfare, attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from la, sedere, lit=to sit. Siege warfare is a form of constant, low-intensity con ...

s and civil-disorder incidents, protecting endangered witnesses, undertaking searches of premises, securing and escorting dangerous prisoners,

heads of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 "he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and le ...

VIPs A very important person or personage (VIP or V.I.P.) is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social status, influence or importance. The term was not common until sometime after World War 2 by RAF pilots. Examples incl ...

and internationally protected persons, as well as the state's counter-terrorist responsibility. Specialist positions include marksmen, bomb technicians and negotiators.{{cite web, url=http://www.newsbeat.police.wa.gov.au/issues/1003/09.aspx, title=Talking it through—TRG sieges handled with care, website=NewsBeat (official police magazine), year=2010, access-date=17 March 2012, archive-date=10 March 2012, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310111915/http://www.newsbeat.police.wa.gov.au/issues/1003/09.aspx, url-status=live The TRG is equipped with a wide range of

less-lethal Non-lethal weapons, also called nonlethal weapons, less-lethal weapons, less-than-lethal weapons, non-deadly weapons, compliance weapons, or pain-inducing weapons are weapons intended to be less likely to kill a living target than conventional ...

devices as well as specialist

firearms A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes c ...

and equipment for 'domestic' and counter-terrorist operations. Training includes tactical roping, fieldcraft, water borne operations, paramedical courses, the use of chemical, biological and radiological equipment,

self-contained breathing apparatus A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), sometimes referred to as a compressed air breathing apparatus (CABA) or simply breathing apparatus (BA), is a device worn to provide breathable air in an atmosphere that is immediately dangerous to ...

and various weapons systems. Specialised vehicles include 2

Lenco BearCat The Lenco BearCat is a wheeled SWAT vehicle designed for military and law enforcement use. It is in use by several military forces and law enforcement agencies around the world. History Since 1981 the Massachusetts-based Lenco Industries, known ...

armoured police rescue vehicles and a forward-command vehicle for emergencies and other major events. The TRG has in recent times also expanded its capability to respond to counter-terrorist and high-risk incidents in a maritime environment including specialist divers, swimmers and the ability to board ships and oil/gas platforms.

Police Air Wing

The Police Air Wing was formed in 1976 and provides support to frontline police, including deployment of police personnel, crime detection and prevention, search and rescue, and medical transfers.{{cite web , title=Police Air Wing , url=https://www.police.wa.gov.au/About-Us/Our-agency/Specialist-Units/Police-Air-Wing , website=Western Australia Police Force , access-date=8 September 2022{{cite web , title=Air Support Unit , url=http://www.wapol.gov.au/airsupport/airsupport.html , website=Western Australia Police Force , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010219164905/http://www.wapol.gov.au/airsupport/airsupport.html , archive-date=19 February 2001 , url-status=dead The Police Air Wing fleet comprises: *Helicopters ** one twin-engine Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin N3 for special operations, transport and rescue; ** one twin-engine

Kawasaki BK117 Kawasaki ( ja, 川崎, Kawasaki, river peninsula, links=no) may refer to: Places *Kawasaki, Kanagawa, a Japanese city **Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, a ward in Kawasaki, Kanagawa **Kawasaki City Todoroki Arena **Kawasaki Stadium, a multi-sport stadium *K ...

for general operations and backup capability *Fixed-wing ** one single-engine

GippsAero GA8 Airvan The Mahindra Airvan 8 (formerly the GippsAero GA8 Airvan 8) is a single-engined utility aircraft manufactured by GippsAero (formerly named Gippsland Aeronautics) of Victoria, Australia. It can seat up to eight people, including the pilot. Th ...

** two single-engine

Pilatus PC-12 The Pilatus PC-12 is a pressurized, single-engined, turboprop aircraft, manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Stans, Switzerland, since 1991. It was designed as a high-performance utility aircraft that incorporates a large aft cargo door in ad ...

* Remotely Piloted Aircraft System unit The Police Air Wing has a primary base at

Jandakot Airport Jandakot Airport is a general aviation (GA) airport located in Jandakot, Western Australia, about south-southwest of the "general aviation area of the Airport West precinct" at Perth Airport. Jandakot airport opened in 1963. From 1 July 1998 ...

, in addition to a PC-12 being based at

Karratha Airport Karratha Airport is an airport in Karratha, Western Australia, Karratha, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The airport is from Karratha and south of Dampier, Western Australia, Dampier. History At the beginning of the iron ore ind ...

. The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turbo-prop aeroplane which can carry a maximum of eight passengers 1800 km (as far as Broome). It can cruise up to a height of {{convert, 30000, ft, m, abbr=on and can travel at approximately 500 km/h. The PC-12's primary role is to transport staff statewide, but it can be utilised for search and rescue (SAR) and disaster relief efforts. The Cessna 182 is mainly used for surveillance and patrol work and can be fitted with a Leo400

FLIR Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on military and civilian aircraft, use a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation. The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal ...

unit. It is also used for inshore and land SAR searches. The Kawasaki BK117 is a twin-engine helicopter, which has been upgraded to B2 specification. Purchased in 1990, and known as Polair 61, the aircraft's role is police patrol, surveillance, search and rescue and officer deployment. It is fitted with a Star Safire III FLIR unit with downlink capabilities, Avalex digital recorder, Avalex moving map system, four monitors, Wulfsberg tactical radio, Nitesun searchlight and a double-lift {{convert, 600, lb, abbr=on rescue winch. FLIR (

Forward looking infrared Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on military and civilian aircraft, use a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation. The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal ...

) cameras track heat sources, such as a vehicle or human body in darkness and have a high-powered zoom video camera for daylight hours. In September 2011, the Police Air Wing took delivery of a new Eurocopter AS365 N3 helicopter, known as Polair 62. The cost of the new helicopter has been reported at $13 million for the helicopter, plus $9 million of equipment enhancements including Forward Looking Infra-Red cameras, winches, and live surveillance with downlink capabilities to the Police Operations Centre. In July 2020, the police force placed an order for an Airbus H145 helicopter to replace the Kawasaki BK117. In September 2021, a second order was placed for a H145 to replace the Eurocopter Dauphin.

Helicopter crash

On 8 May 1992, the police Polair One helicopter crashed while attempting to land on a sports oval for a public display in

Kelmscott Kelmscott is a village and civil parish on the River Thames in West Oxfordshire, about east of Lechlade in neighbouring Gloucestershire. Since 2001 it has absorbed Little Faringdon, which had been a separate civil parish. The 2011 Census reco ...

. The helicopter, an Aerospatiale AS355F1, was destroyed after a fire started in the engine bay following ground impact. The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation report determined "The helicopter probably entered a

vortex ring state The vortex ring state (VRS) is a dangerous aerodynamic condition that may arise in helicopter flight, when a vortex ring system engulfs the rotor, causing severe loss of lift. The vortex ring state is sometimes referred to as settling with powe ...

during the final approach". The pilot and crewman received minor injuries, and the two passengers serious injuries, as a result of the accident.{{rp, p 1

Newman plane crash

On 26 January 2001, four police officers died when their Cessna 310R plane crashed at night near the mining town of Newman. The plane was returning from

Kiwirrkurra Kiwirrkurra, gazetted as Kiwirrkurra Community, is a small community in Western Australia in the Gibson Desert, east of Port Hedland, Western Australia, Port Hedland and west of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Alice Springs. It had a popul ...

, on the edge of the

Gibson Desert The Gibson Desert is a large desert in Western Australia, largely in an almost "pristine" state. It is about in size, making it the fifth largest desert in Australia, after the Great Victoria, Great Sandy, Tanami and Simpson deserts. The ...

, when the aircraft's engines failed due to fuel starvation on the approach to Newman airstrip.{{rp, vii The crash was the single biggest loss of police lives in West Australian history, and the first involving a police aircraft. The officers killed in the crash were: Senior Constable Donald Richard Everett 4600 – 49 years - Pilot of Karratha Police Airwing; Senior Constable Phillip Gavin Ruland 7877 – 32 years - Newman Police Station; First Class Constable David Adrian Dewar 9178 – 31 years - Newman Police Station; Constable Gavin Ashley Capes 10305 – 27 years - Newman Police Station. A remembrance ceremony is held each year by the people of Newman to honour this tragic event.

Aboriginal-run police station

The first Indigenous-run police station is at

Warakurna Warakurna is a large Aboriginal community, located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku and is situated on the Great Central Road (part of the Outback Way ultimately connecting Perth to ...

, a 4-hour drive westwards from

Uluru Uluru (; pjt, Uluṟu ), also known as Ayers Rock ( ) and officially Gazette#Gazette as a verb, gazetted as UluruAyers Rock, is a large sandstone geological formation, formation in the centre of Australia. It is in the southern part of the ...

, set up some years ago and already showing some positive effects. Filmmaker Cornel Ozies, who made a documentary about the station, called ''Our Law'' and shown at the 2020

Sydney Film Festival The Sydney Film Festival is an annual competitive film festival held in Sydney, Australia, usually over 12 days in June. A number of awards are given, the top one being the Sydney Film Prize. the festival's director is Nashen Moodley. Histo ...

, puts the success of the program down to four things: "respect, understanding, communication, and education". The two

Noongar The Noongar (, also spelt Noongah, Nyungar , Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga ) are Aboriginal Australian peoples who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the so ...

police officers from Perth learnt the local

Ngaanyatjarra language Ngaanyatjarra (; also Ngaanyatjara, Ngaanjatjarra) is an Australian Aboriginal language. It is one of the Wati languages of the large Pama–Nyungan family. It is one of the dialects of the Western Desert Language and is very similar to its ...

and cultural protocols of the Ngaanyatjarra people.

Criticism

Murder of Shirley Finn, 1975

The murder of brothel keeper

Shirley Finn Shirley June Finn, née Shewring (2 November 1941 – 22 or 23 June 1975), was an Australian brothel keeper, nightclub operator and socialite who was shot dead at about midnight on 22–23 June 1975 in Perth, Western Australia. Her body, dressed ...

in her car around midnight on 23 June 1975 has long been rumoured to have resulted from a police conspiracy with political ramifications. The circumstances, including the victim's alleged appearance in the canteen bar of the police headquarters at East Perth shortly before the killing, have never been officially disclosed, despite several purported investigations and a royal commission. In 2017, incessant public unrest resulted in an inconclusive coroner's inquest into the murder which sat through 28 days of evidence and heard from some 70 witnesses. In closing the inquest, the coroner announced that there had been "incompetence" in the police investigation and that there were "too many suspects", while vital evidence had "disappeared", including the murder weapon and the victim's luxury car.

Deaths in custody

{{main, Aboriginal Australian deaths in custody, Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody The 1987-1991

Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) (1987–1991), also known as the Muirhead Commission, was a Royal Commission appointed by the Australian Government in October 1987 to Federal Court judge James Henry Muirhead, ...

reported on the

death of John Pat John Peter Pat (31 October 196628 September 1983) was an Aboriginal Australian boy who, at the age of 16 years and 11 months, died while in the custody of Western Australia Police. Alshereon Sage Journals paywall site On 28 September 1983, four o ...

at Roebourne in 1983, and commissioner

Elliott Johnston Elliott Frank Johnston (26 February 1918 – 25 August 2011) was an Australian jurist and communist activist. As a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia (1983–1988), he was the only communist to serve as an Australian judge. He ...

, QC, was critical of the lack of any disciplinary charges against five officers implicated in the violent death of a 16-year-old Aboriginal boy—calling this "a most unsatisfactory state of affairs". The 2002

Kennedy Royal Commission The Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Corrupt or Criminal Conduct By Any Western Australian Police Officer, commonly known as the Kennedy Royal Commission, was a Royal Commission established in 2002 by the state government of Western ...

investigated the February 1988 death of 18-year-old Stephen Wardle, who died whilst in custody in the East Perth lockup. A particularly controversial aspect of the case was that 17 police witnesses declined to give evidence at the coronial inquiry "for the reason that their evidence might have had the tendency to incriminate them."{{cite web, url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/intranet/libpages.nsf/WebFiles/Royal+Commission+into+whether+there+has+been+any+corrupt+or+criminal+Conduct+by+Western+Australian+Police+officer+final+report+Volume+1+part+2/$FILE/WA+police+vol+1+part+2.pdf, title=Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Corrupt Or Criminal Conduct By Any Western Australian Police Officer, Final Report, Vol. 1, Part 2, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322204914/http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/intranet/libpages.nsf/WebFiles/Royal+Commission+into+whether+there+has+been+any+corrupt+or+criminal+Conduct+by+Western+Australian+Police+officer+final+report+Volume+1+part+2/$FILE/WA+police+vol+1+part+2.pdf , archive-date=22 March 2012, work=

, date= 30 January 2004{{rp, 364–365 The commission's report noted:

"The royal commission has no authority under its terms of reference to go beyond the determination of whether or not there has been criminal or corrupt conduct by any police officer with respect to the death of Stephen Wardle. The evidence does not sustain any contention that there was corrupt or criminal conduct by any police officer or officers in relation to his death"{{rp, p 367

2002 Royal Commission into WA Police integrity

Throughout the 1990s there was widespread public concern about police activities and perceived shortcomings in internal integrity, resulting in development by the Labor parliamentary opposition of draft terms of reference for a proposed royal commission. In 2002, the

Kennedy Royal commission The Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Corrupt or Criminal Conduct By Any Western Australian Police Officer, commonly known as the Kennedy Royal Commission, was a Royal Commission established in 2002 by the state government of Western ...

commenced to examine aspects of the behaviour and culture of the service. It concluded in 2004, finding that

...the full range of corrupt or criminal conduct from stealing to assaults, perjury, drug dealing and the improper disclosure of confidential information have been examined.
he Western Australian Police Service He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...
has been ineffective in monitoring those events and modifying its procedures to deal with that conduct and to prevent its repetition.{{cite web, url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/intranet/libpages.nsf/WebFiles/Royal+Commission+into+whether+there+has+been+any+corrupt+or+criminal+Conduct+by+Western+Australian+Police+officer+final+report+Volume+1+part+1/$FILE/WA+police+vol+1+part+1.pdf, title=Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Corrupt Or Criminal Conduct By Any Western Australian Police Officer, Final Report, Vol. 1, Part 1, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322195947/http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/intranet/libpages.nsf/WebFiles/Royal+Commission+into+whether+there+has+been+any+corrupt+or+criminal+Conduct+by+Western+Australian+Police+officer+final+report+Volume+1+part+1/$FILE/WA+police+vol+1+part+1.pdf , archive-date=22 March 2012, work=
Kennedy Royal Commission The Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Corrupt or Criminal Conduct By Any Western Australian Police Officer, commonly known as the Kennedy Royal Commission, was a Royal Commission established in 2002 by the state government of Western ...
, date= 30 January 2004, url-status=live{{rp, 1–2 The fact that there remain in WAPS a number of officers who participated in this conduct, and who not only refused to admit it, but also uniformly denied it with vehemence, is a matter of concern.{{rp, 4

In 2003, largely as a result of the findings of the Royal Commission, a permanent investigative

Corruption and Crime Commission The Corruption and Crime Commission is an independent anti-corruption agency established on 1 January 2004 to improve the integrity of the Western Australian public sector and investigate allegations of misconduct against public officers. It t ...

was established by the

Government of Western Australia The Government of Western Australia, formally referred to as His Majesty's Government of Western Australia, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of Western Australia. It is also commonly referred to as the WA Government o ...

History of racism

On 12 July 2018, in a

NAIDOC Week NAIDOC Week ( ) is an Australian observance lasting from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday. The acronym NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, which was originally National Aborigines Day ...

address, Police Commissioner Chris Dawson formally acknowledged a "history of racism or 'unconscious bias{{' " and publicly apologised to Aboriginal people for past mistreatment, urging his officers to treat Aboriginal people the same as they would a person of another race or background.

Attorney-General for Western Australia The Attorney-General of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of law and justice. Before the advent of representative government in 1870, ...

, John Quigley, said in June 2020 that there was "systematic discrimination" against

Indigenous Australians Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...

in the Western Australian justice system. Statistically, Indigenous people were far more likely to be stopped and questioned by police than non-Indigenous, more likely to be arrested if charged by police and less likely to get bail. Imprisonment of Indigenous people in WA was 4.1 per cent, compared with 2.6 nationally. The number of Indigenous adults going to prison, and young people being held in detention was still increasing, although the rate of imprisonment had slowed. He said that legislative reforms were being planned. WA has a higher number of Aboriginal deaths in custody since 1991 than any other state or territory.

Investigative abuses

Corryn Rayney murder investigation

In his judgment of a murder trial initiated in 2012 following the

death of Corryn Rayney Corryn Veronica Ann Rayney, née Da Silva, (born 1963) migrated to Australia with her Indian family in 1973 as refugees from Idi Amin's Uganda. Her death occurred on or about 7 August 2007, her body being discovered a week later in a clandestine ...

, Justice Brian Martin handed down a "not guilty" verdict and was critical of some police actions, stating that "there were instances of unacceptable conduct by some investigators ranging from inappropriate to reprehensible". He added that he had found "no evidence that lines of inquiry were not properly investigated".{{cite web, url=http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Judgment_Summary_Rayney.pdf, title= The State of Western Australia v Rayney Judgment summary, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119063324/http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Judgment_Summary_Rayney.pdf , archive-date=19 November 2012, website=Supreme Court of Western Australia, date= 1 November 2012{{rp, 1 Some five years before charges were laid, the senior sergeant in charge of the investigation had publicly named Lloyd Rayney as the force's "only suspect" and the "primary person of interest". At the trial, which extended over three months, the judge found that "the State case is bereft of any evidence stablishinga crime scene".{{cite web, url=http://decisions.justice.wa.gov.au/supreme/supdcsn.nsf/PDFJudgments-WebVw/2012WASC0404/%24FILE/2012WASC0404.pdf, title= The State of Western Australia v Rayney Full judgment, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928163023/http://decisions.justice.wa.gov.au/supreme/supdcsn.nsf/PDFJudgments-WebVw/2012WASC0404/%24FILE/2012WASC0404.pdf , archive-date=28 September 2013, date=1 November 2012{{rp, 324 He concluded "The case for the State is beset by improbabilities and uncertainties. Crucial evidence is lacking and the absence of evidence tells strongly against the State. Endeavours by the State to fill critical gaps and explain away improbabilities are primarily no more than speculation without foundation in the evidence."{{rp, 369 These findings were substantially upheld and vindicated by an appeal bench of three judges who unanimously dismissed the prosecutors' appeal, and upheld the trial judge's analysis and verdict. An April 2014 report of the Western Australian Crimes and Corruption Commission cleared two police officers of any serious misconduct in the Corryn Rayney murder investigation. Their behaviour in threatening a female lawyer had been described as ranging from "inappropriate to reprehensible" by the trial judge. A second matter reviewed by the CCC related to "attempts by a third officer to encourage an independent pathologist involved in the case to change a report to better fit police evidence. That officer was found to have acted unreasonably." In September 2014, lawyer and former state governor Malcolm McCusker supported calls for an independent review, and also a

investigation of "claims that police manufactured evidence to incriminate...Lloyd Rayney". As of 2017, the senior investigating officer in the Rayney murder case continued to regard Lloyd Rayney as "the prime and only suspect" despite Rayney's comprehensive exoneration by the courts. A defamation action brought by Rayney resulted in a record compensation award of over $2.6 million and legal costs of over $10 million.

Wrongful prosecutions

Justice Martin's criticism of the Corryn Rayney investigation followed the exposure of a number of notorious cases of wrongful prosecution by Western Australia Police, including those of John Button,

Darryl Beamish Darryl is an English name, a variant spelling of Darell. Male variations of this name include: Darlin, Daryl, Darrell, Darryl, Daryll, Darryll, Darrell, Darrel. Female and unisex variations of this name include: Daryl, Darian, Dareen, Darell ...

, the Mickelberg brothers and

Andrew Mallard Andrew Mark Mallard (16 August 1962 – 18 April 2019) was a British-born Australian who was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1995 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Almost 12 years later, after an appeal to the High Court of Australia, his c ...

, resulting in reversal of long-standing convictions and large compensation payouts by government. In the case of Mallard, who spent 12 years in prison after an unjust conviction, a former WA assistant commissioner has concluded "Mallard is a very clear example of how police and prosecutorial misconduct can lead to a wrongful conviction and a miscarriage of justice...It is also another clear example of the difficulties in holding people to account."

Scott Austic

A clemency petition drafted by the eminent barrister Malcolm McCusker, and lodged with the Western Australian attorney-general in 2012, alleged that ''key evidence was planted, withheld and misrepresented'' in police investigations leading to a 2009 murder trial in which Scott Douglas Austic was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum 25-year jail term. After two successive attorneys-general declined to act on the petition, a fresh petition for clemency was lodged in March 2018 with a more receptive Attorney-General John Quigley, who also proposed legislation to allow people convicted of crimes to apply directly to the Court of Appeal. Quigley, formerly an honorary life member of the

Police Union of Western Australia The police are a Law enforcement organization, constituted body of Law enforcement officer, persons empowered by a State (polity), state, with the aim to law enforcement, enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citize ...

, has subsequently become a fierce critic of the WA Police culture and hierarchy.{{cite news , last=Adshead , first= Gary, title=Re-heated Cold War with WA Police shows John Quigley is just getting started , newspaper=

The West Australian ''The West Australian'' is the only locally edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia. It is owned by Seven West Media (SWM), as is the state's other major newspaper, ''The Sunday Times''. It is the second-oldest continuousl ...

, date=27 March 2018 , url=https://thewest.com.au/opinion/gary-adshead/re-heated-cold-war-with-wa-police-shows-john-quigley-is-just-getting-started-ng-b88786425z , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326233733/https://thewest.com.au/opinion/gary-adshead/re-heated-cold-war-with-wa-police-shows-john-quigley-is-just-getting-started-ng-b88786425z , archive-date=26 March 2018 , url-status=live , access-date=24 July 2022 After spending over a decade in jail, in May 2020 Scott Austic won an appeal against his conviction,{{cite web , last=Menagh , first=Joanna , title=Scott Austic wins retrial 13 years into life sentence for murdering pregnant girlfriend Stacey Thorne , website=ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) , date=14 May 2020 , url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-14/scott-austic-wins-appeal-over-life-jail-murder-stacey-thorne/12245564 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404155756/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-14/scott-austic-wins-appeal-over-life-jail-murder-stacey-thorne/12245564 , archive-date=4 April 2022 , url-status=live , access-date=24 July 2022 was acquitted at a re-trial in November 2020.{{cite news , last=Menagh , first=Joanna , title=Scott Austic acquitted of murdering pregnant lover Stacey Thorne after police allegedly planted evidence , website=ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) , date=20 November 2020 , url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-20/scott-austic-acquitted-of-murdering-pregnant-lover-stacey-thorne/12899760 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404182200/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-20/scott-austic-acquitted-of-murdering-pregnant-lover-stacey-thorne/12899760 , archive-date=4 April 2022 , url-status=live , access-date=24 July 2022{{cite web , last1=Menagh , first1=Joanna , last2=Weber , first2=David , title=Scott Austic appeal ruling found 'credible' evidence knife, cigarette packet planted at scene - ABC News , website=abc.net.au , date=23 November 2020 , url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-23/scott-austic-appeal-ruling-found-credible-evidence-items-planted/12910842 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402160007/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-23/scott-austic-appeal-ruling-found-credible-evidence-items-planted/12910842 , archive-date=2 April 2022 , url-status=live , access-date=24 July 2022 and is seeking compensation. {{As of, 2022, 4, there have been no reported charges against police officers for perverting the course of justice.

Aboriginal man, Gene Gibson

On 12 April 2017, Gene Gibson, an illiterate and mentally impaired 25-year-old Aboriginal man, was released from prison by an appeals court after unjustly serving five years of a manslaughter sentence. Gibson, who was 20 when charged with a two-year-old unsolved murder, was interviewed for many hours by two junior detectives without benefit of an interpreter or legal counsel, which ultimately led to a fake confession and wrongful conviction. Police Commissioner

apologised for the investigative failure, but disclosed the three officers "had not accepted blame and would now face an internal disciplinary process".

Taser misuse incidents

Academic and wife and subsequent legal case

In November 2008, an academic and his wife were tasered by police during an arrest outside a hotel in Fremantle and charged with obstructing a public officer. In 2010 both charges were dismissed, after a magistrate described evidence given by one of the arresting police officers as "extremely evasive", "imprecise" and "unconvincing". The couple's lengthy requests for investigation and retribution were unsuccessful, so in December 2016, they successfully sued and were awarded over $1 million in damages.{{cite web , last=Hickey , first=Phil , title=Perth couple 'tasered' eight years ago awarded more than $1 million in damages , website=WA Today , date=9 December 2016 , url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/perth-couple-tasered-eight-years-ago-awarded-more-than-1-million-in-damages-20161209-gt7zo7.html?_ga=2.153210097.812881415.1522078099-1384654582.1516893079 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327212112/http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/perth-couple-tasered-eight-years-ago-awarded-more-than-1-million-in-damages-20161209-gt7zo7.html?_ga=2.153210097.812881415.1522078099-1384654582.1516893079 , archive-date=27 March 2018 , url-status=unfit , access-date=24 July 2022{{cite web , last=Foster , first=Brendan , title=CCC slammed for not probing Perth couple wrongfully tasered by police , website=The Age , date=12 October 2017 , url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/western-australia/ccc-slammed-for-not-probing-perth-couple-wrongfully-tasered-by-police-20171012-gyzump.html , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327024937/https://www.theage.com.au/national/western-australia/ccc-slammed-for-not-probing-perth-couple-wrongfully-tasered-by-police-20171012-gyzump.html , archive-date=27 March 2018 , url-status=live , access-date=24 July 2022

'Hooliganism' in police station

Two Rockingham senior police officers were sacked in 2010 for using Tasers on their colleagues during hooligan-style antics at the station over 18 months.{{cite web , last=Styles , first=Aja , title=With Rayney in the dock police take out the trash , website=The Sydney Morning Herald , date=10 December 2010 , url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/with-rayney-in-the-dock-police-take-out-the-trash-20101209-18r8y.html , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428142553/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/with-rayney-in-the-dock-police-take-out-the-trash-20101209-18r8y.html , archive-date=28 April 2017 , url-status=live , access-date=24 July 2022

Repeated tasering of Aboriginal man on two occasions

In September 2010 a video was released of an event in which numerous police officers tasered a man 14 times inside a WA police station. The incident, which occurred in August 2008, sparked worldwide publicity and renewed debate about the inclusion of tasers in the police force and officers' excessive use of it. In April 2012, the state's Corruption and Crime Commission made several misconduct findings, recommended charges and said the policemen used "undue and excessive" force. The same man had also been tasered 11 times on 6 September 2008 by Emergency Support Group officers from the Department of Corrective Services while being removed from a cell in the Perth Watch House.{{cite web , title=CCC recommends police be charged over Kevin Spratt taser case , website=PerthNow , last=Bolton , first=Hayley , date=18 April 2012 , url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/ccc-recommends-police-be-charged-over-kevin-spratt-taser-case/story-e6frg12c-1226327756849 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418044449/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/ccc-recommends-police-be-charged-over-kevin-spratt-taser-case/story-e6frg12c-1226327756849 , archive-date=18 April 2012 , url-status=unfit , access-date=24 July 2022 In April 2013, it was reported that two senior officers were to be tried on criminal charges over the first incident.{{cite web , title=Spratt welcomes police taser charges , date=11 April 2013 , url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16684473/spratt-welcomes-police-taser-charges/ , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426035037/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16684473/spratt-welcomes-police-taser-charges/ , archive-date=26 April 2013 , url-status=dead , access-date=24 July 2022, last=Knowles, first=Gabrielle, newspaper=

At a hearing on 22 January 2014, the two officers were fined and given suspended jail terms for unlawful assault.

Person seated in vehicle

In March 2018, Grantley James Keenan, a senior constable with WA Police was suspended for tasering a man seated at the wheel of his vehicle in Fremantle. The tasering had been deemed lawful by a police internal investigation but was described as unlawful, unreasonable and oppressive in a report by the state's

.{{cite web , last=Hickey , first=Phil , title=WA police officer stood aside following release of disturbing Fremantle taser footage , website=The Sydney Morning Herald , date=21 March 2018 , url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/ccc-rules-police-tasering-was-unreasonable-and-oppressive-20180321-p4z5ip.html , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084144/https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/ccc-rules-police-tasering-was-unreasonable-and-oppressive-20180321-p4z5ip.html , archive-date=27 March 2018 , url-status=live , access-date=24 July 2022 He was found guilty of two counts of common assault against the motorist and received an eight-month suspended prison sentence. Keenan was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,500 and court costs of almost $16,500.

Charges brought against serving police officers

2010

= 'Clothes-line' attack on motorbike riders

= In 2010, a senior constable in WA Police's 'specialist enforcement and operations team' was charged with two counts of 'assault causing bodily harm' and one of 'causing bodily harm by an action or lack of action', after allegedly tying a rope across a Karawara path known to be used by motorbike riders. Two boys, aged 15 and 16, were knocked off their bikes with a police spokesman describing their injuries as "believed to be serious, but not life-threatening". The officer was due to attend Perth magistrates court on 4 Jan 2011.

2019

= Police officer twice convicted of assault

= In Feb 2019, ABC news reported that WA police senior constable, Nathan Robert Trenberth was filmed repeatedly punching a 20-year-old man in the head during Skyshow celebrations. The magistrate described his use of force as 'unreasonable' and convicted the officer of assault and fined him $1,500. Trenberth had a second conviction for assault in relation to an arrest of a man at a 2006 Australia Day fireworks display.{{Cite news, first=Rebecca, last=Turner, url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-14/wa-police-officer-who-punched-man-previously-guilty-of-assault/10794764, title=WA Police officer filmed repeatedly punching man in head had previous assault conviction, work=

, date=14 February 2019, access-date=19 November 2020, archive-date=8 November 2020, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108012711/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-14/wa-police-officer-who-punched-man-previously-guilty-of-assault/10794764, url-status=live

References

Footnotes

{{Reflist

Sources

{{Commons category, Western Australia Police
Western Australia Police Force Annual Reports
(Series from 2001) * ''Western Australian Year Book'' 1974. * ''Lieutenant-Governor Stirling's Proclamation of the Colony, 18 June 1829 (UK)'' * ''Western Australia Police Service'' 2003
WA Parliamentary Select Committee on the Western Australian Police Service
Interim Report, June 1996
Episodes in Western Australia's Policing History (1834-2002)
on official website

External links

Western Australia Police Force website

Crime Stoppers WA

Neighbourhood Watch

Office of Crime Prevention
*{{cite web, url=http://www.ccc.wa.gov.au/Publications/Reports/Published%20Reports%202011/Management%20of%20Misconduct%20by%20Western%20Australia%20Police.pdf, title=Report on the Management of Misconduct by Western Australia Police, publisher=Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission, date=2 September 2011, access-date=17 March 2012 {{Law enforcement in Australia {{Government of Western Australia {{Aust PTG {{Authority control Police aviation Law enforcement agencies of Western Australia 1834 establishments in Australia Emergency services in Western Australia