WA police officers have upped the ante in their push for a better pay deal, launching a fresh wave of industrial action designed to hit the State Government where it hurts most — the hip pocket.

From today, officers will begin issuing cautions for minor traffic and alcohol-related offences that would normally result in an offender being fined.

Officers will also be carrying out so-called “welfare checks” on speed camera operators, regularly pulling up at camera locations in marked cars with their lights flashing.

WA Police Union president George Tilbury claimed the action could cost the McGowan Government millions of dollars in lost revenue if it was allowed to drag on. He said the action was “completely justified” given Labor’s decision to renege on its pre-election commitment to give police a 1.5 per cent pay rise.

Camera Icon Union president George Tilbury yesterday. Credit: Steve Ferrier

That offer has been replaced by a flat $1000 pay rise for all public servants, which Mr Tilbury said left almost all police officers worse off.

“We are going to hit the Government in the hip pocket because all they seem to be concerned about is the bottom line,” he said.

Play Video Police will issue cautions instead of fines for minor traffic infringements. The West Australian Video Police will issue cautions instead of fines for minor traffic infringements.

“Our officers feel betrayed ... and we are looking at millions of dollars in lost revenue for this State Government if they do not intervene and honour the original agreement that was on the table.”

The decision to escalate the campaign, which began last month with a work-to-rule order, comes after officers voted overwhelmingly to formally reject the $1000 offer.

People will be given a free kick - WA Police Union

Commerce and Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston yesterday described that decision as disappointing.

“Repairing the State’s finances is an extremely difficult task and it’s something that needs to be shared across the community,” he said.

Mr Tilbury said while the latest action would be seen as a “free kick” by some motorists, he believed it would not affect public safety.

“If people drive dangerously or commit other more serious offences, they will be dealt with in the normal manner by arrest or summons,” he said.

“So we are only looking at minor traffic offences or liquor offences where people will be given a free kick.”

Acting Premier Roger Cook indicated the Government would hold firm in the face of the escalated WA Police Union industrial action.

"No one is immune from doing the heavy lifting in relation to budget repair," he said.

"We have to be resolute here. We have to actually understand that we have an important obligation to improve the State's finances."

Mr Cook would not concede that the Government had broken its pre-election wages policy of a 1.5 per cent pay increase for public servants, but said there had been a "significant deterioration" in the state's finances since the election.

The union has not ruled out escalating its campaign.

“My members are resolute and determined and they want to ensure they get a fair pay increase and improvement to their conditions,” Mr Tilbury said. “They will do whatever they need to do in order to achieve that.”