WA ombudsman questions if violent offender ban actually works
Ombudsman Bevan Warner has raised doubts. WA Police bans violent offenders from entertainment areas. But it's unclear if the ban is working.
Western Australia's Protected Entertainment Precincts scheme bans certain offenders from nightlife areas. The affected areas are Perth, Fremantle, Scarborough, Hillarys and Mandurah.
Police introduced the scheme in December 2022 to improve public safety. Breaking a ban carries criminal penalties.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch and government ministers defended the policy at launch. They celebrated its success after a year.
But Ombud Bevan Warner has now raised doubts about whether it actually works. Since the early celebrations, police and politicians have said little about the scheme.
- December 2022
- Scheme launch
- Ombudsman Bevan Warner
- Questioner
- Criminal penalties for breaching bans
- Penalty
Why it mattersAn independent oversight body is questioning a major police policy. This shows we need real evidence. The scheme must prove it protects public safety.
AustraliaIf the scheme is ineffective, WA policymakers may need to rethink how they tackle violence in Perth and other entertainment districts.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 d ago
