- Cook Labor Government investing almost $100 million in a new court security and custodial services model ensuring safe, reliable operations
- New arrangement will progressively replace police auxiliary officers in court security and custody roles
- Regional model will create local jobs in key justice service hubs
The Cook Labor Government has approved the next stage of a State-wide court services arrangement that will ensure the safe operation of courts across Western Australia.
The model will progressively bring court security and court custody services into the Sheriff's Office, reducing reliance on WA Police in regional areas.
The government will fund a staged rollout of the in-house court services model, including 127 full-time equivalent staff for the first two stages, while extending the existing private contract to ensure services continue during the transition.
The first stage will focus on regional locations where the model can make the biggest difference for courts and police, including Busselton, Northam, Geraldton, Carnarvon, Karratha, South Hedland, Kununurra and Esperance.
The approach will also support local job opportunities in regional justice service hubs, including communities identified through the Seven Cities initiative such as Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha and Port Hedland.
A separate custodial movements contract will be advertised for the private sector to operate services to transport people in custody between prisons, courts, police lock-ups, hospitals and other approved locations.
The Department of Justice will release the Request for Tender later today for the custodial movements contract, with further information available on Tenders WA.
Comments attributed to Attorney General and Corrective Services Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"This model will support safe and resilient court operations while freeing up police officers to focus on frontline policing.
"Court security and court custody will be progressively brought into the Sheriff's Office, reducing reliance on police in regional courts.
"Custodial movements are a separate part of the system and will go to market through a specialist contract.
"This staged rollout will keep court services operating safely while we build a stronger, more sustainable model for courts across Western Australia.
"It will also create opportunities for local jobs and skills in regional communities, supporting both the justice system and the State's broader regional development agenda."
