Resources stretched to breaking: WAPU

The WA Police Union is concerned for the safety of people in small Great Southern towns, claiming resources are being stretched to breaking point, leaving officers fatigued and potentially slowing response times to emergencies.

The realignment of smaller stations was putting pressure on officers and had left only one officer-in-charge to cover up to three sub-districts for an extended time, in what the union described as a “dangerous trend” before its annual conference on Monday.

A motion to be put forward to Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan from the union’s board of directors says the situation was putting officers under increasing stress and responsibility.

The union claims there have been times when two officers have been covering three stations in Cranbrook, Tambellup and Gnowangerup, and this has led to serious fatigue issues.

It also claims there was recently only one officer available in the Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun sub-districts due to illness and leave commitments.

The union wants junior staff from Perth to be sent as relief so they can experience country policing — similar to a staffing model adopted at Katanning Police Station — and greater liaising from the commissioner with the Great Southern district to determine resource levels.

WA Police Union president George Tilbury said the issue was only in the Great Southern, which had struggled to attract and retain officers for a number of years.

Mr Tilbury said the realignment of stations had been happening for two years and the union was concerned for the welfare of officers and the safety of the community.

“In the event our members are looking after more than one town, it is not possible for them to be in two places at once … the response time could be well over an hour or even hours, which in some cases will be too late to take action,” Mr Tilbury said.

“Our major concern is that this appears to only be an issue in the Great Southern.

“Our members are working extremely hard and are stretched to the limit to provide the best possible service for the community, however they are being let down badly by their superiors.”

Great Southern police district Superintendent Catherine Bullen said she had not been approached by any concerned officers in the district regarding either issue.

Shire of Cranbrook chief executive officer Peter Northover said the presence of two officers in the town provided “great comfort” to residents.

He said it was “fortunate” the town’s sergeant was covered by Tambellup when he went on extended leave earlier in the year.

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