Court heads will discuss the ban today as the WA Police Union is steps up calls to have a ban on guns in court lifted.
Court heads in WA are due to discuss the ban on police carrying guns handcuffs and batons in court, following union threats to advise members to appear in court out of uniform.
George Tilbury, Union President said the union would go as far as to encourage members to appear via video link until the issue is resolved, The West Australian reported this morning.
“I make no apologies for doing whatever is necessary to protect my members as I can no longer stand by and hope that nothing will happen when we know it will,” he said in an opinion article today, adding that WA is lagging behind other states on the issue.
The union has been campaigned for the longstanding ban to be lifted since the terrorism alert for police was raised to high and amid the threat of lone wolf attacks. Heads of the Supreme, District, Magistrate’s Children’s and WA Family courts and State Administrative Tribunal are due to discuss the issue today.
WA Chief Justice Wayne Martin reportedly wouldn’t comment before today’s discussion.
