Cook Government was warned that police would no longer act as security for WA courts more than a year ago

The Cook Government was warned that police would no longer provide security services for regional courts more than a year ago but failed to put long-term security measures in place. On Friday, more than 20 courthouses were instructed to vacate hearings for three months from June, after the State’s top judges warned that security of the sites could no longer be guaranteed. The extraordinary decision was taken after WA Police had to reprioritise dwindling officer numbers to the frontline and operational duties. During budget estimates at State Parliament on Tuesday, it came to light that the Police Commissioner wrote to the Department of Justice in December 2024 advising that WA Police Force intended to withdraw from providing the court security services. Attorney General Tony Buti said he hadn’t been “sitting on hands” and was working with Police Minister Reece Whitby on “many arrangements”. Mr Buti couldn’t explain why no alternative security staff had be organised after more than a year - but instead pointed to a $4.4 million commitment by the government to “develop a long term sustainable court security and custodial services model”. “The investment is funding a dedicated project team and specialist commercial advice to design and implement a modern service model,” Mr Buti said. “With a detailed implementation plan to be provided to the expenditure review committee in June of this year.” Until then, Mr Buti said the court would rely on 20 auxiliary police officers currently in training to provide security for the courthouses. He said nine officers could be ready to start work “in the next few weeks” with the remaining 11 expected “within coming months”. When asked by Nationals MP Shane Love why the government had been so slow to act on the issue and prevent the closure of regional courthouses, Mr Buti blamed the “process” for the delays in recruiting and training auxiliary police officers to do the job. In a statement WA Police Union said it was “deeply concerned” that regional court services had been impacted by the ongoing security resourcing issues and reiterated that the role of officers was to be on the frontline protecting the community. “Police officers are not court security guards,” a spokesperson said. “WAPU Members across regional Western Australia are already working under significant operational pressure. They are responding to emergency calls, managing critical incidents, investigating crime, and supporting communities across vast geographical areas with finite resources. “While our Members will always step up to support the broader justice system where necessary, frontline policing resources cannot become the default solution for ongoing court security shortfalls.” Early in the week, Police Minister Reece Whitby denied the government had any responsibility for the court closures and handballed the decision back onto the department and Chief Justice Peter Quinlan. “Courts are independent, they make their own determinations,” Mr Whitby said. “I can tell you, as Police Minister, that the Police Commissioner is working very closely with the Department of Justice to resolve these issues.” Respected legal experts like defence lawyer Tom Percy KC “squarely” blamed the Cook Government for the closures and demanded immediate action. “Any reduction in access to justice for regional citizens is a disgraceful and unnecessary development,” Mr Percy said. “The resulting delays will be significant . . . Delayed justice is already a blight on the WA justice system. This move will make it significantly worse.”