- The Cook Labor Government has invested $24.2 million to extend Operation Regional Shield across Western Australia
- Significant investment is being made to strengthen WA Police, particularly in regional areas
- Regional Shield plays a critical role in reducing crime and protecting local communities
- The Cook Labor Government is committed to increasing police presence in the regions and keeping the growing WA community safe
The Cook Labor Government is prioritising community safety in the regions by deploying more police officers and other operational assets in response to antisocial behaviour through Operation Regional Shield.
$24.2 million has been invested to continue Operation Regional Shield for a further two years after the program was initially created in 2022 to combat youth crime in the Kimberley.
Since its inception, Operation Regional Shield has grown the WA Police Force's capabilities to respond and disrupt crime across the State, supporting thousands of staff deployed to 20 locations across the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid West-Gascoyne, Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance districts.
Operation Regional Shield provides additional police resources to the regions through rotational deployments to support local policing operations and targeted enforcement activity, and when deployed, the purpose of the additional resources is to enhance the capability to respond to, and deter, criminal activity and antisocial behaviour.
This increased police presence has been a success in managing antisocial behaviour and reinforces the Cook Labor Government's commitment to keeping the community safe and ensuring regional areas are protected.
As stated by Police Minister Reece Whitby:
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to keeping the community safe and deploying more police officers to our regions, meaning more boots on the ground and ensuring safety across the State.
"Regional Shield delivers results by reducing crime and protecting the regional communities by putting additional police where they're needed most.
"Increasing police officers in regional areas through this successful operation is supporting police to run targeted operations to disrupt any local crime and antisocial behaviour.
"No matter where we live - in our suburbs, towns, regional centres and remote communities - the Cook Labor Government is committed for all Western Australians to have access to the policing and services we need to stay safe."
