WA Labor to roll out WA-first incentives for regional police

• New Regional Policing Incentive Program to keep more officers in regional WA
• Free and dedicated accommodation for regional police recruits in training
• Guaranteed placement in regional WA close to home for the first four to six years

A re-elected Cook Labor Government has committed to delivering a suite of new incentives to encourage more regional police recruits to live regionally, closer to their home, and future-proof regional policing.

The $15.6 million investment will provide for the redevelopment of the former accommodation, located next to the WA Police Academy, and its ongoing costs.

The redevelopment will be used exclusively to provide free accommodation to regional recruits undergoing their six months of training, in Perth, at the WA Police Academy.

This means recruits can save significantly on time and costs associated with finding short-term accommodation in Perth.

It is anticipated the accommodation could be used for other instances, when there is capacity, including when regional officers are required to attend court in the Perth metropolitan area.

In another first, regional WA police recruits will also be provided with a guaranteed placement, close to home in regional WA, for the first four to six years of their policing career.

For example, a Geraldton-based police officer will secure guaranteed placement in the Mid West-Gascoyne District.

This new suite of incentives will be in addition to a number of benefits for officers to work in regional areas including one-off incentive payments, subsidised housing and travel concessions, and specialised training.

If re-elected, the Cook Labor Government will progress the project quickly and aim to award the redevelopment contract for the accommodation early next year.

On average up to 10 per cent of recruits undergoing training at the WA Police Academy are from regional WA.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

“Our police officers do an incredible service for their communities, and I want to recognise the WA Police Force for their role in every WA community."

“It’s only right they have additional support to make it easier for them to work closer to home."

“This is about future-proofing our regional communities and ensuring we grow our regional police force and keep our regions attractive for people and families to live and work in.”