Drones used to monitor out-of-control kids in Broome as Police Commissioner Col Blanch backs tougher grog bans

Police Minister Paul Papalia has revealed drones are being used to monitor youths engaged in anti-social behaviour in Broome as WA’s top cop renewed calls for stricter restrictions on the sale of alcohol in the embattled tourist hotspot. Residents and business owners in Broome have described fearing for their safety as gangs of children roam the streets causing mayhem and destruction. An investigation by The West Australian has shone a spotlight on the shocking crime wave, which is driven in part by kids being neglected by parents who are abusing alcohol. Police Minister Paul Papalia insisted cops were “doing an incredible job” responding to the situation and that resourcing in the Kimberley was appropriate. He said Operation Regional Shield – an influx of officers into Broome and the surrounding towns cracking down on juvenile offending – extended beyond simply putting more boots on the ground. “It’s also other assets like analysts and use of technology, like drones and aircraft and also some of the techniques that are employed for solving other crimes are employed for some of this juvenile activity,” he said. “To identify high-harm offenders and isolate them… and track them down. That sort of thing is going on all the time.” Asked whether drones were being used specifically to monitor troublesome youths, Mr Papalia responded: “They have been, yeah”. “They’ve used drones, they’ve used aircraft. It could be the canine unit, it could be anything - any resource that’s required,” Mr Papalia added. Also responding to the crisis in Broome on Tuesday, Police Commissioner Col Blanch conceded policing the town was a “challenge” and the situation “saddens me”. Mr Blanch said much of the anti-social behaviour was committed by a core group of kids who had been arrested “time and time again”. “I’ve said on many occasions publicly, what are the causes of crime? We’ve spoken about alcohol. We’ve spoken about rehabilitation of juveniles,” he said. “We can’t arrest anyone under 10 but we are seeing that age at crimes and we are dealing with 10, 11, 12, 13-year-olds who should be, in our community (as opposed to prison), found a way to make sure they don’t continue offending into adulthood.” The introduction of a significantly beefed-up banned drinkers register – due to go into effect in nine days – will for the first time allow police to directly place individuals onto the list for alcohol-related offences. Mr Blanch said he believed the change would “make a difference” but that he was already on the record as supporting broader preventative restrictions, such as those already in place in Carnarvon. “I’ve written a letter, which is public knowledge, to the director of liquor licensing (Lanie Chopping),” he said. “If there are different restrictions coming in, that is a matter for (Ms Chopping). But she’s fully informed, by me, through the stats that we are seeing throughout the Kimberley.” Both Broome and nearby Derby are being reviewed for expanded alcohol limits – which are also supported by Premier Roger Cook – with an announcement expected soon. Mr Blanch said many of the issues plaguing Broome could be traced back to booze. “It’s not about the 10-year-old drinking alcohol – it’s actually about the parents or the family unit being (so) affected by alcohol that kids aren’t being parented,” he said. “So the reduction of alcohol, particularly those who are unable to look after their kids, can in fact keep that child at home. “The families up there who are struggling on alcohol are actually wonderful families when they’re not on alcohol and they will look after their children. “So I think that the actual plan and I’m not opposed to it.”