Western Australia: Court Security, Custody Services to Sheriff's Office

Reforms will establish 127 positions and reduce demand on police resources The Western Australian government will invest almost $100 million over four years to progressively bring court security and court custody services into the sheriff's office, building dedicated government capability and reducing reliance on WA police resources. The Department of Justice announced the new model, with the first phase focusing on regional locations where the changes can deliver the greatest benefit for courts and policing services. The first phase will include Busselton, Northam, Geraldton, Carnarvon, Karratha, South Hedland, Kununurra, and Esperance. According to the WA government , court security and court custody services support the daily operation of courts and the safety of judicial officers, court staff, service users, and the broader community. The first two stages of implementation will establish 127 full-time equivalent positions. The new workforce will include 101 regional positions and another 26 roles supporting operational capability and administration. The reforms are expected to reduce demand on police personnel by about 45,000 hours each year, allowing officers to focus on frontline policing and community safety priorities. The model will also create employment opportunities in regional justice service hubs in Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, and Port Hedland. The Department of Justice said the positions would support local workforces while strengthening justice service delivery. The existing court security and custodial services contract will be extended to maintain continuity while the sheriff's office builds its workforce capability and progressively transitions services to the new operating model. Acting Director General and Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce APM said the reforms would establish a stronger long-term foundation for court operations across the state. “This is a significant investment in the future of our justice system and will help ensure courts continue to operate safely, reliably and effectively across WA,” Royce said in a statement. He said bringing the services into the sheriff's office would build dedicated government capability while reducing reliance on police for non-core policing activities. He also said the model would support regional employment and allow police officers to focus on frontline policing and community safety. As part of the broader reform program, the Department of Justice has released a request for tender for a new custodial movements services contract. The private sector contract will cover the safe and secure transport of people in custody between prisons, courts, police lock-ups, hospitals, and other approved locations. It will also expand the scope of current services to include all prisons across WA. The Department of Justice said it would continue working with WA Police and other stakeholders during implementation to ensure a safe and orderly transition of services. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter service and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest breaking news, cutting edge opinion, and expert analysis affecting both your business and the industry as whole. Please enter your email address below and click on Sign Up for daily newsletters from Australasian Lawyer.