'Self-service' reports to help police
WA Police have launched a new service that will enable people to report lost property and redirect officers' efforts towards frontline policing.
The Report My Lost Property web portal unveiled today would give property owners the chance to access more online "self-service" functions, a police spokesman said.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said the new service was an extension of the Check My Crime initiative, which had proved to be a success.
"All our online services can now be accessed directly on the WA Police website," Mr O'Callaghan said.
"You only need to provide your name, driver's licence number and email address to be able to report lost property items online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Mr O'Callaghan said Report My Lost Property was expected to make the reporting process more efficient.
Police spent nearly 3000 working hours each year entering information on more than 35,000 lost property reports.
"That equates to almost 400 days of effort that could be redirected into frontline policing," he said.
Police Minister Liza Harvey said the program would free up police officers to spend more time on the frontline fighting crime in the community.
"This new, online reporting program will make it much easier and more efficient for both police and the general public to report lost items," Mrs Harvey said.
People uncomfortable with using the internet could still lodge lost property reports over the phone or at a police station, she said.
High-risk items including vehicles, boats, firearms, explosives, chemicals and drugs cannot be entered online.
"These items must be reported personally to police to allow them to properly assess the danger to the community," the police spokesman said.
"Report My Lost Property is available by following the new Online Services link on the WA Police website.
"This is also where users can now find other services like Check My Crime, Report a Crash, Report a Hoon and Register a Party."
Police said owners of lost property could report their items quicker, increasing the chances of items being identified before they could be pawned, auctioned or destroyed.
Only WA Police and the person's insurance company will be able to access information related to the report.
"Members of the public will not be able to access this information unless they proceed through Freedom of Information processes," police said.
"We recommend that you secure any login information to reduce the possibility of unauthorised access to this information."
