- Government welcomes decision by Heads of Jurisdiction to resume circuit court sittings
- Additional police auxiliary officers now available for regional court security and custody
- Support for regional court users will continue as regional and remote court sittings resume
Western Australia’s regional and remote circuit court sittings will resume under revised security and custody arrangements that will see more police auxiliary officers available to provide support to the courts.
The Heads of Jurisdiction in Western Australia suspended regional and remote courts that do not have a sitting Magistrate on 1 June this year, to allow time for reliable court security and court custody arrangements to be implemented.
These courts were expected to resume on 28 August.
With additional police auxiliary officers recently completing their training, and an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the WA Police Force and Department of Justice now signed and in place, affected circuit court sittings can resume earlier than expected.
They will now resume on 3 August.
During the temporary suspension period, the Cook Labor Government has been focused on ensuring communities have been kept safe and that alternative arrangements were put in place for court users including witnesses, victims, and defendants.
As stated by Attorney General Dr Tony Buti:
“I acknowledge while the decision to temporarily suspend circuit courts was necessary to keep the public safe, it did have an impact on regional communities and court users.
“I am very pleased WA Police and the Department of Justice have now signed an MoU which can provide the confidence needed to continue the safe operation of those courts.
“I would also like to acknowledge the many agencies and their staff who worked hard to support people through the temporary arrangements and minimise any hardship.
“Because of this work, and good faith negotiations between the WA Police Force and the Department of Justice, the Heads of Jurisdiction have been able to resume regional and remote circuit court sittings about one month earlier than expected.”
As stated by Police Minister Reece Whitby:
“I welcome the signing of the updatedMoU between the Western Australian Police Force and the Department ofJustice, which provides the certainty needed for regional and remote circuit courts to resume earlier than expected.
“I would like to thankthe Western Australian Police Force, the Department of Justice, and the many agencies and staff who worked together to support Western Australian remote communities throughout these temporary arrangements. Their co-operation has helped maintain community safety.
“Thecompletionof training for additional police auxiliary officers is an importantdevelopment for the continuation of court security and custody arrangementsand supports the safe resumption of circuit courtsittings.”
