Busselton detectives still operating

South West police say there are no plans to disband Busselton detectives unit, despite it being empty for months.

South West District-Superintendent Lawrence Panaia confirmed Busselton’s detectives had been based in Bunbury for the past six months.

However, he denied this meant the unit could be centralised, describing the move as “normal management” due to staff absence.

Insp. Panaia said a Busselton detective-sergeant recently resigned after six months leave and, during his absence, his offsider went to Bunbury detectives so he “was not working alone”.

The district-superintendent said Busselton was not losing services during the shift to Bunbury office and Busselton unit had not been closed.

“Busselton’s still been covered by detectives, everything’s exactly the same,” he said.

Dunsborough Sergeant Craig Anderson recently said at a presentation to the Dunsborough Probus Club there had not been any detectives based in Busselton for about eight months and the commissioner was trying to keep the move “quiet”.

When contacted by the Times after the meeting, Sgt Anderson said he understood the unit was still operating, despite the movement of staff.

The Busselton detectives unit is the only one of its kind in the South West outside of the Bunbury-based South West district office and previously employed two staff who also covered cases for surrounding areas.

Insp. Panaia said in March an efficiency review was being carried out on police services, including Busselton unit, but said its completion did not change Busselton detectives.

He said there were no plans to centralise detective units into a single unit, as was understood to have taken place with other WA units in the past.

Since the recent resignation, a detective returned to Busselton and Insp. Panaia said there were plans to advertise for the vacated role.

Busselton Senior Sergeant Steve Principe said he had not been made aware of Busselton detectives being removed and the unit continued to operate.

The WA Police Union did not respond to requests for comment.