24/11/95
Police Minister Bob Wiese said following discussions with the Western Australian Police Service and the Premier’s Department he was able to announce that charges relating to the cost of leasing a community policing vehicle for school-based police officers would be absorbed by the police service.
Mr Wiese said the proposed $1,200 supplement to lease school-based community policing vehicles was initiated because of changes to the Federal Government’s sales tax laws.
Originally, vehicles for community policing work were supplied by dealers at no cost to the WA Police Service and the vehicles were exchanged every year.
The new Federal sales tax exemption laws forced car dealers to extend their offer from one year to two years which resulted in a considerable cost to the sponsors which they were not able to meet.
Under a new lease arrangement a $1,200 annual supplement was required to meet a shortfall in the cost of leasing the vehicle during a two-year period.
However, Mr Wiese said there would be no charge for leasing the 29 school-based community policing vehicles in future.
Media contact: Mark Thompson 222 9595 or 322 2311
