WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has backed a police decision not to attend the Yangebup home of Joan Mary Drane 48 hours before her son allegedly murdered her, despite paramedics’ requests for assistance.
Blanch told 6PR’s Gary Adshead on Friday that media reports claiming police ignored triple-zero calls from the address in the lead up to the 78-year-old’s death on April 29 were “inaccurate”.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch.Credit: Nine News Perth
The West Australian reported that Drane called triple zero about her 54-year-old son Andre at least three times in the weeks before her death.
The paper said paramedics made a final call on April 27 after they arrived at the property and found Andre exhibiting signs of severe paranoia, but police did not attend.
Blanch said he had listened to that call and was comfortable police made the right decision.
“48 hours prior to the alleged murder, that was the right decision, I’ve listened to the call, and I’m probably one of the only few people that have actually listened to that call,” he said.
“We make decisions on what we know at the time, not what might happen in a couple of days.”
Blanch said police asked St John paramedics whether Andre was being aggressive or was committing an offence, and he wasn’t.
“Two days earlier, before the alleged murder, he went to bed and they did a mental health assessment. It was the right care, the right people involved,” Blanch said.
“I’ve been very clear as commissioner that police are not the right response, where there is no violence or aggression in a mental health environment.
“Our position has quite clearly been that blue shirts with guns and tasers and spray can often exacerbate the problem.
“We will always come and support our emergency services brothers and sisters when there is an imminent threat or an obvious threat or there is violence – we do come, and we have on many, many occasions.”
Blanch said he was distressed for Drane’s family, who read the story and wanted answers, and confirmed police family liaison officers would speak with them on Friday.
He said the police response will be scrutinised during the homicide investigation.
Premier Roger Cook said he had sought a briefing from Blanch on the timeline of events.
“I’ve received some initial indicators in terms of the timelines and I’m not satisfied with the detail of that information,” he said.
“Obviously, this is a very traumatic situation. Our frontline officers, both paramedics and police had to deal with a very confronting situation, and so I appreciate the anxiety and the distress that this has caused.
“I’ll be seeking a full briefing from the Commissioner of Police, but also from the health service provider in the area just to make sure we understand if something went wrong, or what did go wrong, and how we can address it.”
Andre Drane appeared briefly in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday after his arrest the day before.
His matter was adjourned to May 29 and transferred to Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.