Police minister Liza Harvey has announced a re-elected Liberal government would spend $5 million to increase the capacity of Mandurah’s police station from 120 to 220 officers, an upgrade Dawesville MP Kim Hames hoped would “shut up” Mandurah MP David Templeman about police resources.
Ms Harvey said the work would be under way within two years and cater for future population growth in the region.
“It will be a terrific boost for the entire Peel region,” she said.
“It’s recognition of the growth through this corridor, so we have had additional officers come in, we have had additional traffic enforcement officers moved down into this region, we’ve had more detectives come in and we’re actually seeing a consequential drop in crime as a result of that.
“Overall crime over the last 10 years has come down about 10 per cent, but this year we’ve seen significant drops in crime in this district and I believe that's the work of the extra officers and the detectives coming to fruition.”
Mr Hames welcomed the announcement.
“We’ve been hearing stories about police numbers going down here for a long time in Mandurah,” he said.
“We’ve had a series of great news, the first was when the detectives came back and then the traffic police coming and being based here, but now this opportunity to expand the numbers, I think it will shut David up once and for all, because really we’re achieving something that they certainly didn't when they were in government.”
But Mr Templeman returned the friendly fire and said he wouldn’t shut up, instead planning to fight for the Peel to again become a police district after it was merged with the South Metro region in 2014.
“Kim, I won’t stop bleating about the need for more police and for our own regional police district,” he said.
“It demonstrates that you just need to keep chipping away.
“What I hope this does now is – and I'll pursue this if we win – is to re-establish Mandurah and the Peel as a police district.”
Dawesville candidate Zak Kirkup, who replaced Mr Hames on the Liberal party ticket, said he expected the station upgrade would help with the fight against methamphetamine abuse.
He said the community raised their concerns about police resourcing at a forum he held on meth on Wednesday.
“The Liberal led state government has invested more in police than ever before, more than any other government,” he said.
“It was really important that people see that we’re listening to their concerns locally.
“It’ll help to drive the crime rate down and respond to the community’s concern about meth and drug related crime.”
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
