Backlash over PCYC changes

Albany MLA Peter Watson said WA Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan better be prepared for a negative community backlash if plans to redeploy police officers away from the Albany PCYC go ahead.

Picture by Laurie Benson: Senior Constable Terry Eaton has been manager of Albany PCYC for 18 years but will be redeployed in December.

News that Albany PCYC manager of 18 years Senior Constable Terry Eaton and assistant manager Tanya Crabtree would be redeployed in December as part of a Statewide move to remove full-time police officers from PCYCs across WA became public on Tuesday.

Mr Watson met with Great Southern police district superintendent Catherine Bullen on Tuesday afternoon.

Following the meeting he said at this stage the decision to redeploy Mr Eaton and Ms Crabtree back into active police duties in December hadn’t changed.

Mr Watson said he would meet with senior members of the police again to discuss the matter of the future of the two popular PCYC leaders.

“I have told the police commissioner that they had better be prepared to accept community repercussions if they remove police from PCYCs and there is a spike in crime,” he said.

“The future of the Albany PCYC’s police officers is still up in the air.

“She (supt. Bullen) explained why the decision was made and I understand the police point of view but I still think there should be a full time police officer at the PCYC.”

Mr Eaton and Ms Crabtree have been instrumental in running programs for at-risk youth, which have resulted in a drop in crime on Albany’s streets.

Mr Watson said Mr Eaton was taking some time to consider his future.

Superintendent for the WA Youth Policing Division Mark Gilbert said the transition of police from centre management and administrative tasks to a Youth Liaison Officer roles would free up those police officers to engage young prolific and priority offenders and divert them into programs that reduce their offending.

He said the youth liaison officers would be a district resource and expected to provide services to young offenders across the Great Southern district, including identified areas of need in Narrogin, Katanning and Wagin, not just Albany.

marc.simojoki@albanyadvertiser.com