WA police union calls for stab-proof vests

The WA Police Union's call for stab-proof ballistic vests to better equip officers faced with terrorist threats appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

The WA Police Union's call for stab-proof vests and more assault rifles has been rejected, with the minister and force saying equipment is proportionate to the current terror threat level in the state.

WA Police said training and force options provided to frontline officers and those in specialist areas such as the Tactical Response Group were proportionate to the threat level.

"At this time, there are no plans to increase the number of AR-15 rifles issued to officers or to introduce stab-proof vests," WA Police said in an emailed statement.

"We monitor how other police agencies are responding and equipping their officers and make modifications to our approach and accoutrements where necessary."

Police Minister Michelle Roberts made similar comments, but also said she would discuss the findings of the Lindt Cafe inquest with the Police Commissioner "and what operational capabilities are a best fit for WA Police".

She also took a swipe at the former Liberal state government, saying they "did nothing" after conducting a trial of stab proof vests that ended in March last year.

The union called for the vests in its 2017 pre-election submission, saying they were not issued to each officer as personal protective equipment, but rather 1035 pieces of tactical body armour were being shared by 5242 officers ready to conduct critical frontline duties.

Premier Mark McGowan told the union before Labor's landslide win in March that he was determined to lead a government that did more to look after the conditions, health, welfare and safety of police officers.

But parlous state finances meant commitments had to be modest, carefully targeted and affordable.


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Source: AAP



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