10/8/07
Western Australia's eighth frontline police station in remote Western Australia has been officially opened by Premier Alan Carpenter in Warmun today.
The Premier opened the $3million multi-functional police facility together with Police Minister John Kobelke and Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Services) Murray Lampard.
Warmun Community is located some 200km south-west of Kununurra and 160km north-east of Halls Creek.
"These remote police facilities are in response to the State Government's 2003 Gordon Inquiry, which highlighted the need to improve services for remote communities," Mr Carpenter said.
"The new station at Warmun now places a permanent police presence in the area, which was previously serviced by patrols from officers based at Argyle police station.
"The new facility will serve about 500 people at Warmun, together with the outstation communities of Dolly Hole, Violet Valley, Osmond Valley, Norton Bore, Frog Hollow, Bow River and Crocodile Hole."
The Warmun facility has an interview room, video interview room, a charge room, two holding cells and a multi-function room that has built-in facilities to operate as a courtroom.
It will also allow Department of Child Protection and Department of the Attorney General officers to work in the community from the station.
"The Warmun station gives police a permanent presence in the region, providing a safer and more stable community," the Premier said.
"Importantly, it will strengthen the relationships between police, other agencies and the Aboriginal communities that live in the area."
Mr Carpenter said WA's model for multi-functional police facilities had proved very successful, particularly in Kalumburu where shocking incidents of child sexual abuse have recently been uncovered.
"WA's multi-functional police facilities are based on incorporating other government agencies to provide a co-ordinated approach to service delivery in remote areas," he said.
"This model was recently lauded in a report* commissioned by the Commonwealth Government into policing in remote indigenous communities.
"We have already put $120million towards implementing the Gordon Inquiry initiatives, including more than $33million on the nine multi-functional police facilities and associated housing."
Other multi-functional police facilities in WA are located in Kintore (on the NT/WA border), Balgo, Warburton, Kalumburu, Bidyadanga, Dampier Peninsula and Warakurna. The Jigalong facility is under construction and is due to open later this year.
The State Government, in conjunction with the Commonwealth, has recently announced the funding of a further three multi-functional police facilities to be built at Wingellina, Looma and Buringurrah.
Premier's office - 9222 9475
*Valentin APM, J 2007, An Independent Assessment of Policing in Remote Indigenous Communities for the Government of Australia.
