WA Police fly accused criminals out of remote areas amid regional court closures

Western Australia Police are now flying accused criminals out of remote communities because regional courts have closed. Over 20 regional courts will shut between June and August due to a security dispute between the Justice Department and police, forcing changes to legal procedures.

The Magistrates Court has implemented temporary rules requiring anyone charged and refused bail by police to be transported to the nearest major courthouse for a magistrate to decide on bail. Previously, these hearings were conducted via video link from the regional police station where the person was arrested. A WA Police spokesperson confirmed that since the beginning of the month, individuals have been transported from regional areas to major centers by vehicle or the Police Air Wing on weekdays.

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There's been many domestic violence incidents where we have not had patrols on the ground because they have been performing court security duties.

The police force is covering the costs of these transfers as part of its "business as usual practice," though a specific figure has not been disclosed. The spokesperson stated that police "utilises the most appropriate resources available to undertake these transports."

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So quite simply, the decision that I made as commissioner, and it is my decision about my own resources, is that police will be out on the street patrolling.

The core of the dispute lies in security arrangements for regional "circuit" courts, which operate only at specific times of the year when visited by judicial officers. While legislation from 1999 aimed to shift court security responsibility from police to the Justice Department, police have historically provided security in many remote courts. Recently, the force has employed police auxiliary officers or private security personnel acting as "special constables" to free up sworn officers for patrol duties.

In mid-May, the heads of Western Australia's superior courts issued a joint statement indicating their services "cannot be guaranteed" during the closure period, leading to the decision to shut the regional courts. Police Commissioner Col Blanch clarified that the police force's role is to offer "support" to the Justice Department, not a guarantee. He explained that police officers were previously occupied with court security duties, sometimes leaving areas without patrols, and his decision prioritizes having officers "out on the street patrolling."

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We expect circuit courts to re-open once these additional police auxiliary officers are in place.