- Police will be given greater shoot-to-kill powers during terrorist attacks
- Changes expected to be announced on Tuesday by the WA State Government
- New powers are designed to prevent a repeat of the Sydney Lindt Cafe siege
Police will be given greater shoot-to-kill powers during terrorist attacks such as the Lindt Cafe siege.
The changes are expected to be announced on Tuesday by the Western Australian State Government, The West Australian reported.
The new powers are designed to prevent a repeat of the 2014 Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney where police snipers had several chances to shoot gunman Man Haron Monis before two hostages were killed.
Police will be given greater shoot-to-kill powers during terrorist attacks such as the Lindt Cafe siege (stock image)
The changes are expected to be announced on Tuesday by the Western Australian State Government (stock image)
A coroner’s report on the Sydney siege found a pre-emptive shot was never ordered because officers were not sure if the gunman would harm anyone.
The report encouraged WA Police to launch a separate review of its powers.
Police Minister Michelle Roberts said changes would be made to terror laws in WA removing uncertainty and giving police officers legal protection they need in a shoot-to-kill situation.
‘No one wants to see a repeat of terrible events like those at the Lindt cafe and this Government is committed to giving our police every tool they need to respond to terrorist incidents,’ she said.
The families of slain hostages Katerina Dawson and Tori Johnson previously slammed the police handling of the situation.
Police would only be able to use the new powers when the commissioner deems the situation terror-related.
A coroner’s report on the Sydney siege (pictured) found a pre-emptive shot was never ordered because officers were not sure if the gunman would harm anyone
The families of slain hostages Katerina Dawson and Tori Johnson previously slammed the police handling of the situation (Sydney siege pictured)