Alarm at PCYC losing officers

Rockingham PCYC will lose its police officers in a phasing-out period due to be completed by 2013.

Police are deployed at 17 PCYCs across the State in an administrative role.

Picture: Rockingham MLA Mark McGowan

WA Police spokesman Rex Haw said the move came after reviews from the past 30 years showed policing needed to be refocused towards frontline duties.

‘‘The transition of police away from the arduous PCYC administrative role will enable a greater focus on frontline offender management and improve the time available to engage youth a t r i s k o f offending,’’ he said.

However, RockinghamMLA Mark McGowan has raised concerns after Police Minister Rob Johnson said during questioning in Parliament that officers would be replaced with branch managers.

‘‘I am concerned the authority of the PCYC would be diminished if uniformed officers were taken off-site,’’ Mr McGowan said.

‘‘Rockingham PCYC has been extremely successful in identifying at-risk children at an early stage and getting them involved i n the correct programs to get their lives back on track and this success has been largely due to the work of onsite police officers.’’

Opposition Police spokeswoman Margaret Quirk said police should be on hand to intervene to prevent young people committing offences.

‘‘These police officers have been instrumental in identifying at-risk children and steering them away from crime, it’s critical they remain on-site,’’ she said.

WA Police has recently created a Youth Policing Division that will develop strategies to address youth policing issues.

Mr Haw said i t would assume managerial responsibility for a working relationship with the Federation of PCYC, juvenile justice and a range of other discrete policing functions, and also noted police would still play a role in the organisation.

‘‘It is extremely important that police will still be engaged with PCYCs. WA Police recognises the need for and is committed to ensure the sustainability of PCYCs,’’ he said.