The WA Police Union is demanding stab-proof ballistic vests, 1000 more officers and a 1.5 per cent pay rise, warning response times to some jobs might be delayed during industrial action.
The work-to-rule campaign begun on Wednesday means officers will not work unauthorised overtime or be available after hours, and will return to their station for a meal break and to complete each task including paperwork.
Union president George Tilbury says he anticipates delayed response times for non-urgent jobs.
"However, there will be no imminent risk to community safety and officers are expected to respond to all emergency situations," he said on Wednesday.
Mr Tilbury said officers would only cover jobs involving knives and syringes if specialist units that wear the protective vests, such as the tactical response group and riot police, were busy and there were two police cars in attendance.
Vests will cost about $10 million to issue to frontline officers.
The union is also urging members to lodge health and safety forms when they are exposed to hazards where they should have been protected by vests.
Mr Tilbury says the union also wants the state government to honour the annual 1.5 per cent pay increase previously promised, and described the 100 additional officers for the meth border force as "measly".
Premier Mark McGowan insisted his government's wages policy was fair and reasonable.
"The state's financial position is catastrophic, we can't afford large pay increases," he told reporters.
Mr McGowan said the 13kg vests were available at most stations when required, but he was open to discussing it further.
The premier also denied Mr Tilbury's claim that he compared police work to council rangers during a private conversation.
Mr McGowan said what he actually told Mr Tilbury was his argument that police often intervened in situations when they were off-duty also applied to other workers such as rangers and nurses.
"I said once I open the door to additional pay on the basis of the fact you might do something outside of ordinary hours well then I'll have a whole range of occupations making the same claim," he said.
Acting Police Commissioner Gary Dreibergs said he expected all officers to continue to undertake their duties and prioritise community safety.
"In past industrial campaigns, the passion and commitment of our officers to ensure the safety of the community has never been compromised and I don't expect it will be compromised this time."
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