Kimberley youth crime a ‘key priority’ for McGowan as extra officers announced, on-country diversion planned

WA Premier Mark McGowan has announced a number of measures to tackle escalating youth crime in the North West, and said it would be a “key priority” for the year ahead. Speaking during the first day of parliament for the year on February 15, Mr McGowan announced special operation Regional Shield would begin on February 16, seeing extra officers and “high profile” police resources flown to the Kimberley to tackle the growing issue. “This will be a firm response but it will not be the only response,” he said. The announcements comes after two Broome police officers were taken to hospital after their patrol car was rammed. It was the latest in a series of rammings across the region, which has in six months seen five officers taken to hospital. He also announced a number of programs, including on-country diversion options and the target 120 early intervention program, would be rolled out across the region in coming months. “The Government’s successful target 120 program will be rolled out across the Kimberley in an effort to stop children becoming lost to the criminal justice system in the first place,” he said. “We will stand with communities who are proposing local solutions to local problems and will fund some local targetted initiatives. It follows last week’s news that the four Kimberley Shire presidents and their chief executives would travel to Perth to demand a seat at the table in discussions on youth crime. Shire of Derby-West Kimberley President Geoff Haerewa said the decision to travel together had been born out of frustration. ”We are being told what to do from down south, rather than being consulted with and listened too as experts who are on the ground and living with this mayhem day in and day out,” said Haerewa, who has lived and worked in Derby for more than 20 years. “In the past we have asked to be at the table when these state ministers discuss the Kimberley but we’ve mostly been ignored. So now we’re taking the fight to their doorstep. “The current state of affairs cannot go on – and we will do everything we can to bring peace back to our homes and towns.” Mr McGowan said the reasons behind problems being experienced in the Kimberley were complex and “won’t be solved in the life of this Government”, but said he would continue to put a major effort into a comprehensive response.