The public is likely to see more police officers at certain places, but there will also be a lot of police activity that the public won’t be seeing, WA Police communications director Neil Stanbury said.
‘WA Police has primary responsibility for the response to any terrorism incident that might occur in WA,’ he said.
‘It would do so with the assistance of a range of State and Australian Government agencies, including the Australian Federal Police.’
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READ NOWLast week the State Opposition criticised the State Government for not ensuring WA Police had a full complement of Tactical Response Group officers.
Mr Stanbury said while there were some vacancies due to the introduction of officer tenure, it did not in any way affect the large and well-equipped TRG’s capability or capacity to perform its tactical group roles.
Opposition police minister Michelle Roberts said internal police sources suggested there were seven vacant positions and this could blow out to 10 by January 2016.
‘The rise in the alert level does not mean that a terrorist event is imminent or will occur, but like police, the public also need to be more vigilant,’ Mr Stanbury said.
They should ring the national security hotline if they have concerns.