Cook Government has not funded extra police positions since 2023 as violent crime continues to rise

The growth in the number of extra police hitting the beat across WA has flatlined for almost three years as the Cook Government puts the brakes on funding new officers. Analysis by The West Australian of historic WA Police staffing data shows that the number of authorised positions funded by the Government increased from 6381 officers in June 2020 to 7331 in 2023. Since then there has been no additional funding for extra officers to join the force, despite a surge in violent crime and fast population growth. In the period between 2023 and 2025, threatening behaviour offences were up 63 per cent, assaults increased by a fifth and restraining order offences increased 36 per cent. Shadow police minister Adam Hort said the numbers were far worse when looking at the officer headcount — the actual number of staff on the books — which has been declining. “Police officers do not just walk away from the force,” he said. “When resignations and retirements are rising it points to a serious morale and retention problem, and it is clear many officers do not feel valued for the incredibly difficult job they do. “Minister Whitby’s first year as Police Minister has been an abject failure, with the actual headcount of police officers in Western Australia going backwards, while at the same time violent crime is at record highs.” Police Minister Reece Whitby was asked why the Government had not funded additional positions since 2023 and whether the force was keeping pace with the population growth. A State Government spokesperson responded in a statement. “There have never been more police officers in WA than today and the Labor Government has doubled capacity of the Police Academy, training up to 1000 new police recruits a year,” they said. “More police than ever before means more police officers in public spaces and entertainment precincts, meaning officers are responding to incidents faster, resolving incidents quicker and more recorded offences. “Prosecutions by police for criminal offences in most offence categories have remained steady or improved, demonstrating the WA Police Force’s continued effectiveness in investigating and resolving these matters.”