Hazard procedures safe, says union

The WA Police Union says it is satisfied with police procedures for handling hazardous materials after a Bunbury officer was burnt during a bomb scare that focussed on the Leschenault Estuary.

The officer suffered minor chemical burns when a small portion of a suspicious package, found in the estuary, exploded while it was tested for drugs last year.

The substance was in fact the highly volatile and dangerous explosive TATP. It was transported to Perth and had to be detonated at Gloucester Park.

After the incident, the WA Police Union raised concerns about police procedures for handling hazardous substances.

However, the union’s president George Tilbury said the union is satisfied with police procedures.

“The public should be extremely careful if they discover unknown chemical substances and we urge them to report suspicious material to police immediately, ” he said.

“We have advised our members to always err on the side of caution and if in doubt ensure experts, such as ChemCentre, are called to the scene.

“Chemical experts are best placed to identify substances and they will recommend the most appropriate transportation and disposal methods.”

A police spokesman said officers were reminded of the procedures for dealing with hazardous materials.

They were also sent a new video on how to use the drug test kits, known as NIK tests, and what officers should do if the tests “fail to respond”.

“Each officer must be responsible for their own safety and any other person in the workplace, ” he said.

“Following the incident involving TATP, officers in the agency have been reminded of their obligations on assessing and controlling hazards and risks in their business areas.

“This includes Organised Crime Squad officers, who have now instigated a triage response when dealing with hazardous material.”

Last week, Ben Mcdonald Roberts, 34, was jailed for 30 months in the Bunbury District Court for making the explosive and leaving unexploded packages in the Leschenault Estuary.

His lawyer, Derek Hunter, will appeal against the length of the sentence. He will argue it was too severe taking into account the circumstances of the offence and Roberts’ personal circumstances.