Carnarvon community to see benefits of summer crime crackdown: Police Minister

Police Minister Paul Papalia says the Carnarvon community will see youth crime addressed in the area, with the State Government announcing its summer crime crackdown. Operational Regional Shield was launched in Geraldton last week, which aimed to provide regional police with additional resources in order to combat the anticipated surge in crime over summer. Assistance could come in a variety of forms, including specialist officers from a number of sectors including the tactical response group, police air wing, and canine section. Mr Papalia said the trends indicated a rise in crime towards the end of the year. “We do see an uptick generally, a bit of antisocial behaviour and some of the juvenile-led crime right across the regions,” he said. “(It’s) not surprising, there’s school holidays, people are out and about too - the weather enables it.” Carnarvon’s officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Paul Tolan previously told the Midwest Times he wanted to combat youth crime and alcohol-related offending in the Gascoyne. According to Mr Papalia, the latest initiative could assist in making that happen. “Operation Regional Shield is a way of providing additional resources wherever it’s required,” he said. “Regional Shield has already been deployed to Carnarvon. “If (police) need any additional resources, and seek them out from the commander and and the commissioner, they’ll be afforded to them.” As part of Operational Regional Shield, a number of assets could be available across the regions. However, Mr Papalia said the numbers would remain confidential. “Operational matters should be retained in confidence,” he said. “You don’t want to tell the bad guys how many people or what type of capability you’re deploying in advance of doing it that would be counterproductive.” Mr Papalia also said the alcohol restrictions in the area have been beneficial since it was introduced. Takeaway sales of alcohol on Sundays and Mondays were banned in May 2023. Bottles shops are open from noon-7pm on other days. Mr Papalia said: “When the two-day a week takeaway alcohol restriction was imposed, it was a 27 per cent reduction in crime, and that is a direct link to harmful use of alcohol.”