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Midland MLA Michelle Roberts upset by vandalism of electoral office

Sally McGlewMidland Kalamunda Reporter

OPPOSITION Police spokeswoman and Midland MLA Michelle Roberts is concerned damage from vandalism to the windows of her campaign office will have to be replaced at her own cost.

The quotes for the replacements are in excess of $2600 and she said she was looking at getting a CCTV camera installed near the area now.

Ms Roberts said this is the second time her campaign office, at Centrepoint Shopping Centre, has been attacked.

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“This occurred before the 2013 election as well,” she said.

Ms Roberts said that under the Liberal Government, the Midland electorate had two of the state’s worst crime hotspots.

“They talk tough on crime when there’s an election, but the police presence in Midland has dropped over the last four years, response times have blown out and the crime rate has gone up.”

Ms Roberts said that overall the election campaign had been a positive experience.

“I’m hearing that people are fed up on a whole range of issues, particularly crime,” she said.

State Police Minister Liza Harvey said earlier this month that by mid-2017, the government would have recruited an additional 1050 police and police auxiliary officers.

“Almost $400 million has been spent building and upgrading police stations across WA, including 19 new and replacement stations,” Ms Harvey said.

“Since our Police Frontline 2020 reforms, which Labor opposed, response times have improved by up to 25 per cent and there are 22 per cent more cars on patrol during peak periods such as Friday and Saturday nights.

“The overall crime rate per capita has reduced 20 per cent over the last 10 years.”

Ms Harvey said the opposition had opposed or criticised the government’s major law and order legislation such as mandatory sentencing for people breaking into homes.