Western Australia Police have initiated a significant operation targeting individuals associated with the sovereign citizen movement, following the tragic killing of two police officers by fugitive Dezi Freeman. In a five-day operation, officers seized a total of 135 firearms and cancelled or suspended 44 licenses, addressing what police estimate to be over 1,000 sovereign citizens residing in the state.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch announced that many individuals targeted during the operation held firearms licenses legally, but their ideologies rendered them “not fit and proper” to possess such licenses. The operation, dubbed Ascent, was prompted by the incident on August 26, 2023, when Freeman shot and killed Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart while they attempted to execute a warrant at his property.
During the operation, police employed a three-tiered approach. Those confirmed to hold sovereign citizen beliefs had their licenses revoked and firearms confiscated. At 70 locations identified, 21 licenses were cancelled. The second tier focused on individuals suspected of sovereign citizen ideologies, leading to 23 licenses being suspended pending further investigation. These individuals are now subject to a fitness test to assess their compliance with state laws.
Police conducted 26 firearm storage inspections based on intelligence suggesting improper storage practices. As a result of these inspections, investigators laid charges against seven individuals.
Footage from the operation revealed officers confronting individuals about their fitness to possess firearms. In one instance, an officer informed a property owner, “you are not a fit and proper person… to be in possession of a firearm.” Another officer noted a man’s affiliation with an organization linked to sovereign citizen ideologies.
Commissioner Blanch emphasized the police’s responsibility to determine who is deemed fit to hold firearms under the new firearms act. “If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, then there is no way you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm,” he stated.
The operation is part of a broader initiative across Australia, with police jurisdictions nationwide addressing the risks posed by individuals adhering to sovereign citizen ideologies. Blanch remarked that this effort has brought the issue into sharp focus, particularly in light of the violence experienced in August.
Blanch also mentioned that the determination of sovereign citizen beliefs often involves reviewing past communications with courts or authorities, where individuals may have openly identified themselves as such. While symbols or social media posts expressing anti-police sentiments may not automatically result in license cancellations, they can prompt further inspection of firearm storage.
The police operation has garnered support from community members, including lawful gun owners who provided critical information. Police Minister Reece Whitby acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, “Not every sovereign citizen has the potential to be a danger to the community, but some are, and that is a risk we cannot take.”
Looking ahead, Blanch anticipates appeals to be filed in the State Administrative Tribunal as a consequence of the operation. The police’s proactive measures highlight a commitment to safeguarding both the law enforcement community and the public at large from the potential threats posed by individuals who reject the legal framework of Western Australia.
