Successful alert system to safeguard Kwinana residents.

27/3/00
The highly successful new PCCOPS program will be used to assist industries, businesses and residents of the Kwinana industrial area in the event of a chemical emergency.
PCCOPS, or Police-Community Combined Operational Phone System, is a telephone communication system built around computer technology.
Police and Emergency Services Minister Kevin Prince said today the system would be used in Kwinana to alert industries and the public in surrounding neighbourhoods of any potential emergency involving chemicals.
"PCCOPS was developed in Western Australia and is one of the most innovative tools ever developed for law enforcement and emergency alerts," Mr Prince said.
"It was trialled in Armadale for a year before going online in the Perth metropolitan area in 1997.
"The program has proven to be so successful as a way of communicating between the police and the community, it has now been updated for use State-wide."
PCCOPS is a two-part system.
It can be used as a Dial-In service where community members can access the system by dialling 9280 0133, follow prompts and obtain crime information in their local area or crime prevention advice.
It is also used as a community emergency alert facility. The police can record a message regarding a series of major crimes in an area, a chemical hazard, a lost child or elderly person, a fire, a weather hazard, or any other situation where the community needs to be advised quickly or their assistance is needed.
An area is identified, and a computer links mapping and address software with the electronic white pages to send out the recorded message to up to 3,600 homes every hour.
"In Kwinana, the industrial area has been divided up into operational sectors and all industries and businesses in the sectors will have their names and contact phone numbers pre-entered into the PCCOPS computer," Mr Prince said.
"Each sector is assigned a separate personal identification number, or PIN.
"If a situation arises where the industries have to notify each other quickly of a potential hazard, a number is dialled, the appropriate PIN entered and a message is recorded.
"This message is then sent to all the phone numbers within the chosen sector advising them of the situation or problem.
"If the public need to be alerted as well, the police will be notified, an area surrounding any particular part of Kwinana will be highlighted on a PC at the police communications branch, which is located within police headquarters, and a message recorded.
"All those listed in the selected area will then receive the message as well as appropriate instructions on what action to take."
Mr Prince said the WA Police Service was working in partnership with the Kwinana Industries Council and the Kwinana community to increase safety and speedy communications in the event of an emergency.
"I believe this system will provide a vital new service to the Kwinana industrial area," he said.
"The Kwinana Industries Council (KIC) has been a strong supporter of the new PCCOPS program since its inception and has donated a customised computer software program valued at $3,000 for the project."
Media contact: Caroline Lacy 9220 5000