Behind the doors of the new Woden station
November 2005
The new Woden Police Station has been designed in close consultation with police to suit officers and their operational requirements.
All access doors - plus some internal areas - and the car park gates have sophisticated security measures, with entry possible only by authorised AFP members.
The 2260 square metre station's customised design features begin with the front office, where police deal directly with public enquiries. A second, glassed-off area behind the counter serves as a secure environment, where telephone and data enquiries are processed.
The ground floor is designed to satisfy the demands of a busy metropolitan station. Offenders and suspects can be brought in by vehicle directly into the secure compound area at the rear and undercover to the processing area.
The new Woden Station boasts the latest in secure Watch House facilities for prisoners. People brought into custody are secured in cells with a large, inbuilt front glass section where they are under visual surveillance by officers, as well as under scrutiny by CCTV cameras in each cell.
Directly opposite the cells is an area dedicated to processing the information of offenders or suspects who are brought into custody.
From the processing area, arresting officers can process all the information relevant to those in detention, and visually monitor their behaviour. Visual display terminals in this area are hooked into the station's CCTV network, providing a constant scan of each cell and allowing one officer to monitor all those in detention.
The station's upper floor houses the administrative, muster areas, working areas and recreational areas.
Territory Investigation Group detectives have a specific area, including a large and separate Major Incident Room.
There are several briefing rooms - one equipped with high-definition audio-visual equipment - and a muster room for the officers.
The long hours and physical demands of policing are such that the station is provided with a small but well-equipped gymnasium, with separate change and shower facilities.
Detective Superintendent Mick Kilfoyle, in charge of ACT Policing's South District and the most senior officer at the Woden Station, said the fresh and well-designed new premises would provide a professional and effective workplace for ACT Policing.
"I'm delighted with how well the architects have taken the input and ideas from all the various parties involved and developed a working environment which I'm sure will be the envy of other jurisdictions around the country," Det Supt Kilfoyle said.