State-of-the-art Perth Police Centre opens

• $93million Perth Police Centre delivered within budget

• Purpose-built facility will accommodate up to 500 police officers and staff

• Centre is open 24/7 to members of the public

Police Minister Liza Harvey has officially opened Perth's new state of-the-art police complex in Northbridge.

The $93million Perth Police Centre will house up to 500 police officers and support staff and is the biggest WA Police capital works project ever undertaken. The complex contains the Perth Police Station, the Central Metropolitan District Office, the brand new Perth Watch House and the Northbridge Magistrate's Court.

It is fitted with an extensive CCTV network of more than 250 cameras, with a control room managing all access to and from the Perth Watch House, which can hold up to 72 people overnight.

Mrs Harvey said the complex had been completed within budget and was open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"This complex brings key policing facilities to the centre of Northbridge and provides greater efficiency and convenience in what is a policing hot-spot," the Minister said.

"This means improved economies of scale as well as the benefit of the increased public confidence that comes with greater police visibility."

Mrs Harvey said the centre would also be home to a range of specialist units including the District Crime Team, Central Metropolitan Detectives, Traffic Unit, District Forensic Investigation Office, Crime and Intelligence Coordination Unit, Family Protection Unit and Community Policing Unit.

"This will mean these units are able to work together with the most up-to-date facilities and resources to ensure greater productivity and co-ordination," she said.

The Minister said the centre showed the commitment of the Liberal National Government to continually improving policing services to the community.

"The centre supports frontline policing to meet the current and future needs of the Perth Central Business District, Northbridge and the Central Metropolitan District," she said.

        Fact File

• The Perth Police Centre is four storeys high over a single level basement and has a gross floor area of 17,681sqm

• Construction was completed at the end of February this year, with fitout of police equipment during March and a staged transition of police units during April and May

• Liberal National Government provided $3.78million to WA Police to update 48 of their motor vehicles with technology to check about 1,000 vehicle number plates per hour

• Liberal National Government funded a $20million high-tech helicopter for WA Police

• Government allocated $1.3million for the lease and fit-out of two police transport vehicles and $1.2million to double the number of general-purpose dogs

• WA Water Police now have a new $2.28million purpose-built boat

Minister's office - 6552 5900