In Western Australia, when should you contact police versus handling a situation yourself?

• A. Always escalate to supervisor.
• B. Contact police for criminal offences or violent threats; handle non-criminal disputes within training scope, de-escalate and document incidents.
• C. Wait for instructions from client.
• D. Contact police only for non-criminal disputes.

Answer: (B)

Assess situations by legality and risk. If a criminal offence is occurring or there are violent threats, contact police immediately and follow your training for reporting and preserving the scene. For non-criminal disputes, handle within the scope of your training, use de-escalation to reduce risk, aim to resolve or manage the situation, and document everything—what happened, when, where, who was involved, and what actions you took. Always prioritize personal safety, follow agency procedures, and seek supervisor guidance if the situation exceeds your training or policy.