Despite a promised crackdown, the number of laptops and mobile phones stolen from WA Government departments has increased significantly.

About $700,000 worth of electronic devices were lost or stolen in 2014-15, and increase of $215,000 from the previous financial year.

WA public servants reported 1,400 missing devices this year, compared to just 700 last year.

The Education Department was hit the hardest, losing $372,000 worth of gear, up $130,000 on 2013-14 figures.

The losses represent 0.2 per cent of the 188,000 devices the department owns.

The Health Department appears to be running a tighter ship, with just $40,000 worth of taxpayer-funded electronics going walkabout.

The figures come a year after Premier Colin Barnett pledged to crack down on the issue, claiming he would reach out to the state’s Auditor-General to help.

This year, Mr Barnett has taken a different line, arguing that the losses represent just a small proportion of the devices used across the Government.

He also placed more blame on government workers.

“Departments have policies in place to minimise the risk of loss or theft, but public servants who are granted the use of these taxpayer-funded devices also have a responsibility to ensure they are safely secured,” the Premier’s statement said.