Lexi Webster
The Western Australia Police Force, also known as WAPOL, is responsible for policing the world's largest single jurisdiction, covering 2.5 million square kilometres and serving a population of 2.66 million people. The force has over 9,000 employees, including sworn Police Officers and Police Auxiliary Officers, who work across a range of roles to prevent crime, protect the community, and manage state emergencies in Western Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of employees | 9,000+ |
| Number of police stations | 150+ |
| Number of districts | 15 |
| Number of Police Auxiliary Officers | 366 |
| Population served | 2.66 million |
| Area served | 2,527,013 sq km (2,500,000 sq km) |
| Technology | Apple CarPlay, Motorola XTL2500, Axon in-car digital video system, Telstra iPhone 11s, Motorola smart mobile solution |
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What You'll Learn
Western Australia Police Force's history
The Western Australia Police Force, also known as WAPOL, is responsible for policing a population of 2.66 million people across the state, 2.11 million of whom live in the Perth Metropolitan Region. The force covers a jurisdiction of 2,527,013 square kilometres, making it the world's largest non-federated area of jurisdiction.
The Western Australia Police Force was first established in 1829, when Governor Stirling appointed a sheriff and a few part-time constables to maintain public order in the Perth and Fremantle colonies. The sheriff was to have under his direction a high constable, constables, bailiffs, and surveyors of highways. The Sheriff still exists as an officer of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, but no longer has jurisdiction over police or highways.
In 1834, a troop of Mounted Police was formed, and other types of police were added as the colony's needs changed, particularly after the introduction of convicts in 1849. The colony's Legislative Council passed a Police Ordinance in May 1849, outlining police powers and responsibilities. The Ordinance noted that 'distinct general and town police forces' did not yet exist.
In the mid-1850s, many colonists petitioned the Colonial Secretary for a united force. This was formally established on 5 March 1853, when the Colonial Secretary, W.A. Stanford, appointed John Augustus Conroy as Superintendent of Police. A Code of Rules for the Western Australian Police Force was published on 15 March, outlining a formal command structure and listing the basic duties of officers and constables.
The Western Australia Police Force has continued to evolve since then, introducing major technological innovations and reforms. In 1917, the first women police were introduced to the State, though they remained a separate entity until being integrated into general policing in the 1970s. In recent years, the force has become one of the most technologically capable in the world, leveraging technology for dispatching, information and incident management, communications, investigations, and enforcement.
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Technological capabilities
The Western Australia Police Force is among the most technologically capable police forces in the world, with its Executive Director responsible for technology, workforce relations, assets, governance, and finance. The force has set several policing technology precedents in recent years, leveraging technology for dispatching, information and incident management, communications, investigations, and enforcement.
In 2019, the Western Australia Police Force announced the successful completion of an Apple CarPlay pilot program, the first time the platform had been used for operational policing worldwide. This was followed by a deal with Telstra to provide iPhone 11s to all frontline police officers and select agency staff. In March 2022, Motorola introduced a world-first smart mobile solution for the force, delivering the "world's first public safety mobile [app]". In addition, the force has successfully trialled low earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet.
The PSCore app, a key part of the force's digital policing strategy, has been deployed across the force's entire fleet of more than 6,000 mobile devices. It integrates critical operational information from multiple systems, presenting it through a single, intuitive interface. The app has improved the force's ability to respond to a wider variety of incidents, including family violence incidents, and has automated the process of publishing family violence reports in real-time to the Department of Communities, accelerating referrals to support agencies for victims.
All fleet vehicles are equipped with standard technology packages, including a Mobile Information Management System Terminal (IMS Terminal), a Motorola XTL2500 digital radio system, an Axon in-car digital video system, and Apple CarPlay-enabled head units. Some specialised units, such as the Traffic Enforcement Group and Regional Operations Group, also have automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems and automatic radar speed detection systems. The ANPR system, integrated with Motorola Solutions' PSCore mobile application, allows for faster and better-informed investigations and road policing, improving officer decision-making and incident documentation.
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Vehicle equipment
The Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL) provides police services to the state's 2.66 million people, covering a jurisdiction of 2,527,013 square kilometres. It is one of the most technologically advanced police forces in the world, leveraging technology for dispatching, information and incident management, communications, investigations, and enforcement.
WAPOL vehicles are equipped with various technical gadgets, including automatic number-plate recognition systems and radios. The force uses a mix of sedans, wagons, SUVs, and four-wheel drives for various road operations. Models like the Skoda Superb, Kia Stinger, Kia EV6, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Kia Sorento are commonly used and meet the criteria for both marked and unmarked policing duties.
General Duties police vehicles, which form the majority of the fleet, carry additional equipment for general policing duties, including:
- Breath alcohol and drug testing facilities
- Firefighting equipment
- Defibrillators
- Spike strips
- Handheld radar speed detection guns
- Traffic cones and other traffic direction equipment
- High-visibility raincoats
- Medical equipment
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Occupational-specific equipment such as ticket books, incident report pads, vehicle-affixable stickers, and evidence bags
The Regional Operations Group (ROG) officers carry extra equipment and are issued with AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles for counter-terrorism duties. The Tactical Response Group (TRG), a component of the Counter Terrorism and Emergency Response Command, also carries specialised equipment.
WAPOL has also been at the forefront of adopting new technologies, such as the successful completion of an Apple CarPlay pilot program in 2019, and the rollout of iPhone 11 devices to frontline officers in partnership with Telstra.
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Police Auxiliary Officers
As of 2023, the Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL) employed 366 Police Auxiliary Officers, who are non-sworn officers that support sworn police officers through auxiliary functions. To put this into context, the total number of police staff employed by Western Australia in 2023 was 9,481, including 7,214 police officers, auxiliary officers, and Aboriginal liaison officers.
The Western Australia Police Force provides police services to a population of approximately 2.66 million people across a vast area of 2,527,013 square kilometres, making it the world's largest non-federated area of jurisdiction. The force manages 200 police facilities, 15 policing districts, and 9,000 employees, including Police Auxiliary Officers, across a range of frontline, technical, and auxiliary roles.
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WA Police Force headquarters
The WA Police Force, also known as WAPOL, is the police service for the state of Western Australia, which has a population of 2.66 million people. The WA Police Force is made up of more than 9,000 employees, including Police Auxiliary Officers, who are non-sworn officers that support police officers through auxiliary functions. The WA Police Force is led by Commissioner Col Blanch and is organised into 15 policing districts and 200 police facilities.
The WA Police Force has its headquarters in East Perth, overlooking the Causeway and near the WACA Ground. The building is entered on the State Heritage Register. The WA Police Force has a long history dating back to the appointment of a Sheriff by Captain Stirling on 18 June 1829, as part of the proclamation of the Swan River Colony. The Sheriff was tasked with maintaining public order in the Perth and Fremantle colonies. Over time, the police force in Western Australia evolved, with the establishment of a united, structured body in 1853 and the appointment of the first full-time constable for Perth in 1840. Today, the WA Police Force is known for its technological capabilities, having set several policing technology precedents and partnered with companies like Telstra and Motorola to equip its officers with the latest devices and applications.
The WA Police Force headquarters in East Perth has been associated with a notable incident in the past. In 1975, Perth brothel keeper and nightclub operator Shirley Finn was shot dead in her car in South Perth. There have been rumours of a police conspiracy surrounding her murder, including reports of her being seen at the canteen bar of the headquarters shortly before her death. Despite investigations and a Royal Commission, the specific circumstances of her death have never been officially disclosed.
The WA Police Force headquarters is responsible for overseeing the operations of the entire police force in Western Australia. It coordinates the work of its officers across various levels and roles, including frontline, technical, and auxiliary positions. The headquarters also plays a crucial role in maintaining community relations, responding to calls for help 24/7, and providing support and safety to victims of crimes. The WA Police Force's vision is to be an exceptional police force for the community, delivering trusted and valued policing services throughout Western Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
The Western Australia Police Force has more than 9,000 employees, including 366 Police Auxiliary Officers.
The Western Australia Police Force polices a jurisdiction of 2.5 million square kilometres, making it the largest single police jurisdiction in the world.
The duties of the Police Auxiliary Officers in Western Australia include the admission, supervision, and release of detainees, custodial support for drugs and firearms, transportation of detainees, and station-based support tasks.
