Named in honour of renowned Perth crime reporters Ralph Wheatley and Jack Coulter, whose work famously assisted police in the 1963 capture of serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke, the Wheatley-Coulter Award will be presented to three winners in three different categories at the annual Western Australia Police Force Recognition of Excellence (ROE) Awards.
The award will be presented in person by the WA Commissioner of Police, along with a cash prize of up to $2000 per winner which will be presented by event sponsors P&N Bank.
Unlike other States and Territories, Western Australia has no dedicated award (or award category) for crime reporting.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said he hopes the new accolade will acknowledge and further encourage the vital work reporters play in community reassurance, crime prevention and crime solving.
“The Western Australia Police Force is extremely grateful to our WA community for their support, without which, we would not be able to solve crime and properly perform our duty. A big part of this vital support is generated by media reporting on the impacts of crime and showing our community how police solve crime with their support.
“Through the media, our community becomes our best resource. Vital and timely information often prevents or helps solve crime, and our media partners play a crucial role in conveying that information.
“I believe The Western Australia Police Force is the best in the world, and that is in part because we remain transparent to our community, to oversight bodies and to the reporters who hold us accountable.”
Event Sponsors P&N Bank said “P&N Bank is proud to continue our deep connection to the Western Australia Police Force through our ongoing sponsorship of the Recognition of Excellence Awards.
As well as sponsoring the Police Commissioners Brilliance in Policing Award, P&N Bank’s Head of Retail Distribution, Jay Farrell said the Bank was honoured to sponsor all three categories in the inaugural Wheatley-Coulter Crime Reporter Award.
“This award acknowledges the vital role our media play in helping the WA Police Force maintain community confidence and solve crime in our state, underscoring that our whole community benefits when we work together.” WA Police Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Joey Catanzaro, said proper recognition of impartial, accurate and timely crime reporting in WA was well overdue.
“Police officers do things no one else will do, in places and situations and times no one else will do them and just on the other side of the police tape, there’s often a crime reporter there serving the public interest in a different but very important way.
“Policing is a difficult and demanding job, and that is why by extension, crime reporting is arguably the most demanding job in any newsroom. It is hard, sometimes dangerous, and frequently difficult work.
It can also be extremely meaningful. It’s high time this work was properly acknowledged, and I thank the Commissioner of Police and our sponsors P&N bank for making this possible.”
The Wheatley-Coulter Crime Reporter Award will be decided by a panel of three judges, all of which will have a strong background in crime reporting. Two of those judges will be independently selected by a past winner of the Clarion, WA’s highest journalism honour. The judging panel will be completed by the WA Police Director of Media and Corporate Communications.
The Wheatley-Coulter will be presented to three individual winners across three categories.
- Short Form: Acknowledges timely and accurate crime reporting, with a focus on public interest, impact, accuracy, objectivity, ethics and strong storytelling under breaking-news conditions.
- Long Form: Recognises in-depth reporting that enhances public understanding of complex crime types and police responses. Judging considerations include public interest, impact, accuracy,
- Analysis: Highlights critical thinking and analysis of crime, law enforcement and community impact. Judges will look for fair, unbiased reporting that informs public debate and examines policing strategies.
All entries will be assessed on public interest, impact, accuracy, objectivity, ethics, storytelling and overall contribution to community understanding.
Background on the ROE Awards
The WA Police Force Recognition of Excellence Awards celebrate extraordinary commitment to trusted and valued policing. The program includes five main categories — Metropolitan, Regional, State, Agency Services and Development, and the Lance Martin Technology Award. The Wheatley-Coulter Award joins these prestigious categories to recognise external contributions to policing outcomes.
The Western Australia Police Force wishes to thank P&N Bank for its continued support.
All nominations must be relevant for the period 18 March 2025 to 17 March 2026. Nominations are now open and close on 17 March 2026.
To nominate your work, or for more information on the awards and the judging criteria, visit:
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