WA police services to benefit from cash investment

Police Minister: Liza Harvey

Police services in WA are to receive  $285m funding towards extra officers and police infrastructure upgrades.

State Treasurer, Troy Buswell said that the investment will see a total of $285m injected into the states police department, $215 of that is expected to fund the recruitment of  550 new officers.

The  remaining $67m is to be used to upgrade police station buildings that will house the new recruits. 

The funding, to be delivered over four years, was announced today in a joint statement by Mr Buswell and  Police Minister, Liza Harvey.  

Mrs Harvey said the funding would mean more officers on the beat than ever before.

"Fifty police officers would be recruited this year and in 2014 for a new rapid response unit in Perth's southern suburbs and 33 auxiliary officers will be signed up for general duties.The infrastructure upgrades will take place where they are most needed, in particular in Perth's outer suburbs," Mrs Harvey said.

She said the new recruitment program would be in addition to the 100 police officers to be recruited by June 2014 as part of the government's previous growth program.

"We will continue to invest in our local and regional communities to ensure we are building stronger and safer societies," Mrs Harvey said.

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