Forrestfield Police Station and new Volkswagen Touareg R turbo diesel hybrid fleet unveiled by WA Police

Police have unveiled a brand new station in Perth’s east and a fleet of 12 cars for the crack squad tasked with catching serious offenders fast. The Forrestfield Police station was officially opened by Commissioner Col Blanch and Police Minister Reece Whitby on Wednesday. It features dedicated interview rooms aimed at making victims of domestic violence and serious crime — who previously had to report to the front desk— feel safer when speaking to police. Mr Blanch said the new interview spaces would hopefully provide more comfort for people reporting domestic violence. “It goes without saying that police stations have to be a safe place for victims to come and report, again, one of the most horrifying times of their lives,” he said. “In many cases, it’s exactly the feedback that I did get from my advisory group, who are experts in family violence and victim survivors themselves, saying that these rooms will make a huge difference with some privacy, rather than in the foyer of a police station, which sadly has happened on many occasions, because there just was not those rooms available.” Mr Whitby said the station, open to the public between the hours of 8am and 7pm during the week, was operational 24/7 year-round, meaning facilities, including two holding cells, could be utilised by officers. “Having that 24/7 operational capacity at Forrestfield means that officers, through the night, can be on the roads, in our neighborhoods, in your street, rather than tied to a desk at the police station,” he said. “When police are needed, they’re available, and that’s the main thing.” Mr Whitby said 37 officers are currently based out of the station, which costs tax payers $27m — exceeding the projected cost by $5m The new fleet of 12 Volkswagen Touareg R turbo diesel hybrids — to be used by the Rapid Apprehension Squad — were also revealed at the stations’s opening. Mr Blanch said they were equipped with new sensor and computer technology, transforming the cars into an “office on wheels” for officers tasked with tracking down serious offenders quickly. “The rapid apprehension squad are our first group that were trained in what’s called evade resolution tactics, and that is to bring evading police drivers to resolution very, very quickly,” he said. “Far too many times we see long pursuits that go for far too long, putting our community at risk.” “When we need someone arrested quickly because they are harming our community, the rapid apprehension squad are the ones we call upon.” “They have access to every piece of technology, information and communication that they need to do their job (while) staying on the road.” The new vehicles — with safe handling, improved lighting and additional carriage space — were added to the fleet following the decommissioning of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore patrol cars, with the Volkswagens “exceeding expectations” during the testing phase. The Forrestfield station covers the suburbs of Forrestfield, Gooseberry Hill, Hacketts Gully, High Wycombe, Kalamunda, Lesmurdie, Maida Vale, Paulls Valley, Piesse Brook, Pickering Brook, Reservoir, Walliston, Wattle Grove, Bickley, Canning Mills and Carmel. The station can house a total of 100 officers where needed.