Union calls for more police numbers

Busselton police station is one of the most understaffed 24-hour police stations in WA, according to the WA Police Union.

Union president George Tilbury said the station didn’t enjoy rostering advantages seen at other stations which were manned for 24 hours.

“Officers at Busselton police station are required to work more night shifts than anywhere else across the State, which means they spend more time away from their families, ” Mr Tilbury said.

According to the Union, Busselton officers work five eight-hour night shifts a week instead of the four 10-hour shifts on night shift in place at other stations, which means officers have one less night at home with their families.

“The Union believes that six more police need to be stationed at Busselton, as a minimum, to ensure a better work-life balance for officers and their families, ” Mr Tilbury said. “The area attracts regular, seasonal events and activities which can increase workloads.”

Crime statistics for population centres in the region such as Broadwater, Busselton West Busselton, Vasse and Geographe show increases in police tasking, with rising volumes of assaults, burglaries, robberies and graffiti in recent years.

WA Police statistics to May this year show crime in Geographe increased from 54 offences between 2008 and 2010 to 73 offences between 2010 and 2012 and 109 so far since July 2012.

In West Busselton the figures have risen from 196 between 2008 and 2010 to 237 so far between 2012 and 2014.

In Busselton, recorded crime rose from 381 offences in the period from 2008 to 2010 to 432 between 2010 and 2012 and is at 378 between July 2012 and May this year.

Busselton Police Senior Sergeant Steve Principe said the bigger workload came from the increased community demands of a growing city.

He said the 24 officer station would benefit from a “ball park figure” of six additional officers.

“Drugs are our issue in this community, a greater number of officers would mean more patrols on the road, more search warrants, ” Sen. Sgt Principe said.

He said a State level agency review was underway looking into the allocation of WA police resources over the next 12 months and whether any needed realignment.

South West District Police Inspector Geoff Stewart said Australind, Bunbury and Busselton made up 74 per cent of all crime in the South West.

“Busselton are the second highest performing police station (behind Australind), they’ve taken crime down 15 per cent on last year, ” Insp. Stewart said.

“At the moment we’re satisfied with resourcing. We have a reduced crime area. We don’t see a need for any additional resourcing but we assess that on an ongoing basis.”