Police Minister Liza Harvey used a visit to the Labor strongholds of Warnbro and Mandurah to pour cold water on the Opposition’s promise to build a police station at Secret Harbour.

Mrs Harvey visited the Peel region to talk law and order and also held a closed meeting with Rockingham councillors and a handful of residents, before hosting a community forum in Greenfields.

“The Opposition are making promises about building police stations in many areas at the moment,” she said.

“An easy thing to do from opposition, I have to say.”

Mrs Harvey said the Government believed money was better spent on putting more police officers on the road instead of more infrastructure investments.

She said it was important residents understood while stations usually opened from 8am to 4pm, officers worked a 24-hour roster.

“The police officers themselves don’t sit there waiting for issues to come to them, they’re actually out in vehicles, responding to calls that come into the assistant centre and bringing people back in if required,” she said.

Warnbro MLA Paul Papalia said it was disappointing the Barnett Government refused to see the need for more police in the district.

“This is just conformation, they are not listening to the local community’s concern,” he said.

“It’s a stark choice. If people want a police station between Rockingham and Mandurah and more police, only WA Labor are offering that and will deliver it.”

Warnbro Liberal candidate Joel Marks said issues raised with Mrs Harvey included police response times, police presence on the streets and the effectiveness of City security services.