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West Australian
5 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
WA Police establish dedicated hate crime unit to target rise in anti-Semitism and racial hatred
WA Police have established a dedicated hate crime unit to combat rising racial hatred and anti-Semitism across the State. Senior members of Perth's Jewish community say incidents of anti-Semitism have risen 300 per cent since renewed Middle East conflicts — sparked by the Hamas attack on Israeli citizens — in October 2023. The unit is only the second such specialised team to be established by police in Australia. The first was in NSW, which was given a $525,000 boost by the Minns Government this year. WA Police Commander Darren Seivwright on Saturday said there was no place for hate crimes in the State. 'The hate crime team was established in response to growing community concern about hate-related offences,' he said. 'The establishment of this team aligns with national efforts to improve the reporting and response of these crimes. 'Criminal offences that are motivated by an ignorance or prejudice towards people that are different from the offenders have no place in WA. 'WA Police Force are well placed to respond to hate-related offending, and no tolerance will be afforded to the small section of our community who engage in this type of insidious behaviour.' The team provides police with the capability to respond to, and investigate, hate motivated incidents, also working with online operatives from the State Security Investigation Group. The unit uses a myriad of sophisticated tools at their disposal to identify and find people involved, including using automatic number plate recognition where applicable and scouring CCTV and dashcam footage. Since the unit was established in April, five arrests have been made in relation to hate-based crimes, including over an anti-Israel graffiti attack on the WA Parliament in May and a Perth man performing a Nazi salute during a live stream in June this year. Across Australia, there has been a disturbing rise of hate crimes and anti-Semitism. Jewish Community Council of WA president Geoff Midalia said while few reports were made, incidents targeting his community were rife. 'Every week there is a drive-by at a school where somebody winds down the window and takes photos, or somebody drives by a synagogue screaming 'F… the Jews or someone doing a Heil Hitler sign out the window,' he said. 'This is ongoing. It's regular. 'Since October 7, 2023, the increase in anti-Semitism in our community has been around 300 per cent.' Establishment of the hate crime team comes off the back of several measures already taken by the WA Government to address similar incidents. Legislation enacted in March prohibits the public display of Nazi symbols and the Nazi salute. A maximum penalty of five years imprisonment applies. The Cook Government is also introducing a 'post and boast' offence to punish the glorification of illegal and dangerous acts on social media. The new laws will impose penalties of up to three years' jail for circulating such material, including online. The laws will target material on social media that may humiliate, intimidate or victimise a person, increase the reputation or notoriety of the offender, glorify the conduct, or encourage copycat behaviour. Those who don't remove offending material face a year's jail and a $12,000 fine. Offences covered by the legislation will include assaults, stealing and robbery; property damage; dangerous or reckless driving, racial harassment and inciting racial hatred and Nazi symbols and salutes. Premier Roger Cook said on Saturday his government would do all it could to keep the Jewish community safe. 'My government has a strong relationship with Western Australia's Jewish community, and we will continue to work together to keep WA safe,' he said. ''We condemn recent attacks like those on an East Melbourne synagogue that strike fear into the heart of all Western Australians. 'Racism and antisemitism will not be tolerated in WA, and WA Police will use every tactic and measure at its disposal to protect the community and catch the perpetrators. 'Hate crimes have no place in WA and we will do everything to crack down on the cowardly thugs who commit these vile attacks.'
West Australian
6 days ago
- West Australian
Carolina Wilga: Satellite internet technology helped WA Police in search for missing backpacker
The roll-out of satellite internet across the WA Police Force has been credited for its success in helping with the search for missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga. Officers in remote parts of the state are using the Starlink network to remain connected to critical systems where mobile coverage isn't available. 'Over 200 vehicles in regional WA have now been fitted with Starlink,' Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. 'In Carolina Wilga's search and rescue we had three vehicle all with Starlink capability. In the past WA Police would have zero communications, or very sketchy communications. We would really struggle with our land searches.' The technology has been implemented by the Anywhere Communications Team, who were winners at the WA Police Force Recognition of Excellence Awards this week for their contribution. 'It's extraordinary for our police officer who have the full ability to use all of the data, collect all of the information and to plot every path they need to go to do these searches,' the Commissioner said. 'They (officers) are safe but also we do our job much better out in the field.'
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Missing German backpacker's van found
A missing German backpacker's abandoned van has been found after she disappeared while travelling solo in Australia's outback. Carolina Wilga was last seen in the general store in the West Australia wheatbelt town of Beacon about noon on June 29, some 300km northeast of Perth. The 26-year-old, who had been travelling and working in Australia for about two years, told friends she intended to explore regional WA. Her disappearance has triggered a nationwide search amid concerns for her safety. Police found Ms Wilga's Mitsubishi van on Thursday about 150km from Beacon. Carolina Wilga at a service station. Photo: WA Police Force/YouTube "The vehicle was located abandoned in the area, in the northeast Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, and is believed to have suffered mechanical issues," a spokesman said. Ms Wilga was not found. The temperature in Dalwallinu, near Beacon, dropped to 2.6°C overnight, with more cold weather on the way. "The search to locate her is continuing, with additional resources being deployed to the area," police said. Investigators previously said they did not believe Ms Wilga was the victim of a crime. "It's certainly unexplained her disappearance and we are taking it very seriously," Detective Senior Sergeant Katharine Venn said. "Her family are understandably distraught, very worried, as any of us would be with a young family member the other side of the world, missing in such unusual circumstances." Det Snr Sgt Venn described the region as "very remote". "The actual town site is very small and when you travel out there are some very picturesque spots and some quite inhospitable, rocky terrain," she said. Ms Wilga has a slim build, with frizzy or curly long, dark blonde hair and brown eyes, with several tattoos, including symbols on her left arm. She last had contact with friends on June 29 and had travelled through the towns of Toodyay and Dowerin, southwest of Beacon, earlier in the day. Ms Wilga's mother previously pleaded for anyone with information about her daughter to contact authorities. "Carolina is still sorely missed. If anyone has any information, please contact the police. Please keep your eyes open!!!", Katja Will said on a WA Police Facebook post. A Facebook page named Help Find Carolina Wilga has been set up. Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, at more than 300,000ha, is the largest nature reserve in the southwest of WA.
Sky News AU
10-07-2025
- Sky News AU
Fears grow as van found amid major search for German backpacker missing for over a week
Fears continue to grow for the welfare of a missing German backpacker - who last seen in regional Western Australia more than a week ago - as the van she was last spotted driving has now been discovered without her. WA Police Force have released CCTV footage of Carolina Wilga, 26, visiting a general store in the small town of Beacon in the sate's Wheatbelt region on June 29, where she arrived about 12.10pm. Detective Senior Sergeant Katherine on Thursday confirmed Ms Wilga has not been seen since she left the store in a van, and that she was last heard from by friends that morning. Ms Wilga had been backpacking in Australia for the last two years before her disappearance and had recently been working at mine sites in regional WA. She is described as having a slim build, curly brown hair, brown eyes, and several tattoos, with a unique 'symbols' tattoo on her forearm, police have said. Police have extended the search nationwide and issued a new urgent call to the public on Thursday for any information that may assist in their search for the backpacker. 'Someone out there must have some vital information which can assist WA Police in bringing Carolina back to her family and friends,' Detective Katherine told media. The missing woman was last spotted driving a black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van with license plates 1HDS330, and police confirmed on Thursday afternoon the vehicle had been found without Ms Wilga. "About 1.10pm, Thursday 10 July 2025, police located the outstanding Mitsubishi Delica van that was driven by Carolina WILGA," WA Police posted on their Facebook page. Police said the van was discovered abandoned in the Karroun Hill area of the Wheatbelt region, and it is believed the vehicle had "suffered mechanical issues". Ms Wilga was not located with the van, police said. "The search to locate her is continuing, with additional resources being deployed to the area," the update said. Meanwhile, a 'Help Find Carolina Wilga' Facebook page has been set up to aid the search for the backpacker. Anyone with information that may be able to assist enquiries have been urged to call police on 131 144, make a report via Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000, or submit any relevant footage to a public portal set up police.
7NEWS
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Ford Falcon, Holden Commodore police cars get European PHEV SUV replacement
The bahnstorming Volkswagen Touareg R has been signed up by the Western Australia Police Force for use as an emergency response vehicle, following the retirement of its traditional Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon pursuit vehicles. 'Today, we're rolling out our new patrol fleet! Boosting frontline power, safety, and performance. Say hello to the Volkswagen Touareg R turbo diesel hybrid!' said the WA Police Force on its social media channels this week. 'Following the decommissioning of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, a comprehensive review was undertaken to identify an operationally suitable vehicle to withstand the demands of police emergency response driving.' The post erroneously calls the Touareg R a 'turbo diesel hybrid', when it's actually a turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid; the rest of the Touareg lineup, in contrast, features turbo-diesel power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Priced from $133,490 before on-road costs, the all-wheel drive Touareg R became the Volkswagen brand's first plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in Australia last year. It's powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 augmented by an electric motor, outputting 340kW of power and 700Nm of torque. The German brand claims its large performance SUV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.1 seconds, making it quicker than the Commodore SS and Falcon XR police cars of old. Production of the homegrown Commodore ceased in October 2017, a year after Ford also ceased local manufacturing and discontinued its long-running Falcon. While the social media clip released by WA police shows an unmarked version, it's understood the Touareg R will be deployed in both high-visibility and covert roles. It's not clear how many examples of the Touareg R will be purchased by the WA Police Force, which is believed to be the first Australian state to employ the model, but it won't be the first VW enlisted by police in the country's western state. Like other Australian states, law enforcement officers in WA use a variety of sedans, wagons, SUVs and vans, depending on their application. For both marked and unmarked patrol duty, these include the mid-size Volkswagen Tiguan and large Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger crossover SUVs, as well as the large Skoda Superb and Kia Stinger liftbacks and the Toyota HiLux ute. The electric Kia EV6 has also been tested by WA police. Depending on their use, each vehicle must meet strict safety and performance requirements, and patrol vehicles are fitted with technologies including number plate recognition. In general, WA police vehicles are replaced less frequently than in other states, every four years or 120,000km. While police in many states are tight-lipped about the type and number of vehicles employed for operational reasons, most police forces now have a diverse vehicle fleet comprising a variety of models from a range of auto brands. The Kia Stinger remains the highway patrol vehicle of choice in Queensland, but the rear-wheel drive Korean liftback is currently being replaced by the all-wheel drive vehicles such as the BMW 340i xDrive in Tasmania and the Subaru WRX in the Northern Territory. The BMW 530d large diesel sedan, meantime, remains the favourite police pursuit car in New South Wales and Victoria, where the BMW X5 and M5 Competition are also used. Victoria Police also uses other passenger cars, SUVs, utes and specialist vehicles from brands including Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen. It's evaluating several electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and says most sedans and wagons added from 2025 will be hybrids. In NSW, apart from the 530d, police also continue to employ the BMW X5 and Chrysler 300 SRT for highway patrol duty, while general-duties police vehicles include the Volkswagen Passat and Hyundai Sonata sedans, and the Isuzu D-Max ute. And apart from the Stinger, Queensland Police use a range of both marked and unmarked frontline cars including the Kia EV6 and Sorento; the Toyota LandCruiser, Prado, Camry, Kluger, HiAce and HiLux; the Isuzu D-Max and MU-X; the Hyundai Santa Fe and iLoad; and the Volkswagen Amarok.
