New Woden Police Station Opening
Alex Sloan ABC 666 - Interview with Chief Police Officer Audrey Fagan
2 November 2005
Alex Sloan: Alex Sloan with you and we're heading off now to the opening of the long-awaited new Woden Police Station, and joining me is the ACT's Chief Police Officer and that's Audrey Fagan; thank you very much, great to talk to you.
Audrey Fagan: Good morning Alex.
Alex Sloan: Now tell us about this station, it's been a bit of a political football hasn't it, but it's finally here.
Audrey Fagan: Oh it's been a great day today. We've had a gap in the weather and we had a parade with the Canberra Police City Pipe and Drums, and the Woden Station is now fully operational and replaces the 35-year-old former police station.
Alex Sloan: What has the new station got that the old one didn't have?
Audrey Fagan: Well, for starters it's double the space and the operational floor is all on the one level so that really helps us get the police working together. The other one is, for those living this side of town will remember, the old station was from a design perspective, a little bit inefficient. The new station has technology called VOIP, Voice Over Internet Protocol, which enables us to be on the computer and also then use our phones all through broad-banding, so that's another efficiency. And importantly, I think as well, the cells down here are all compliant with the recommendations out of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, so the cells are pretty well state-of-the-art.
Alex Sloan: How many more police will be serving in the station?
Audrey Fagan: There'll be 80 officers which consists of sworn officers, unsworn and our Volunteers in Policing who have a small office here as well. But we've got growth space up to 120 people, so as we have the potential to grow we've got the space here to cater for that.
Alex Sloan: Why is it particularly needed in Woden; will it help enhance policing in the Woden Valley?
Audrey Fagan: I'm confident it will. For those who come into the police station, it's a much friendlier, more open place. It's situated at Callam Street, just across from Westfield Woden and has a more people-friendly outlook than the old station. At the same time, it'll serve the districts well with all the contemporary things that we need in policing.
Alex Sloan: Is Woden seen as a problem area by ACT Police?
Audrey Fagan: Overall, our crime rates are 13.2% down on last year but there are no particular pockets of problem crime, Alex. This is the South District's prime station; we've got the other one down in Tuggeranong which was actually constructed by the same builders so they quite complement each other.
Alex Sloan: What do you put that crime rate drop down to?
Audrey Fagan: I think a mixture of things. A key to it is a solid partnership with the community, giving us information. You can look to our Crime Stoppers and the raft of calls we've had there, and also, there has been great police work. We have our recruits in an observation week this week and I think the excellent training that they receive enables them to get about their jobs and solve crime well.
Alex Sloan: Will there be more Beat work out of Woden?
Audrey Fagan: The Beats work from here will continue, as will the City Beats. There's a mixture of various approaches. We are going to have a rapid deployment team here that will target particular hot spots and that's a new initiative that we'll be forming in the next couple of weeks.
Alex Sloan: What sorts of hot spots?
Audrey Fagan: Where there are hot spots, where we've got an intelligence or target that we need to address, then we'll do so. It is not in place just yet but it will be a capacity that will, as our superintendents meet and say this week we're seeing a rise in this, or we want to encourage our summer safe campaign, we'll actually move in on that particular matter and be very active.
Alex Sloan: As I said, it's been a rocky path to the new facility. It's a bit of a political football there between governments here in the ACT. Are you confident all the bugs have been ironed out and operations there now are officially underway?
Audrey Fagan: Look, it's fully operational. I was here on Sunday as the current members moved from the old station to here and I can tell you it's completely operational. I'm speaking from the OIC's office right now, and it's a treat to see. Alex, we have an open day on Saturday the 19th of November and it would be fabulous for people to come down and have a look and see for themselves.
Alex Sloan: So Saturday the 19th of November for them to go and see the new Woden Police Station. Audrey Fagan, thank you very much, it's great to talk to you.
Audrey Fagan: Cheers, thank you Alex.
Alex Sloan: Okay, farewell. That's Audrey Fagan who's the ACT's Chief Police Officer, there at the opening, the official opening of the new Woden Police Station which is now fully operational.
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