Yanchep officer numbers increase following WA Police restructure

YANCHEP police station has its first Senior Sergeant.

Ben Huggett took up the position this week following WA Police’s latest metropolitan restructure, which has increased staff numbers in the Yanchep sub-district.

MORE: Officer numbers to increase at Yanchep police station

Snr Sgt Huggett has worked in a variety of roles since joining WA Police 22 years ago, most recently running the Joondalup response team.

Sergeant Chris Wride remains at the station he took charge of 18 months ago, joined by Sergeant Andy Abel, who spent the past four of his 14 years with WA Police at Clarkson station.

Snr Sgt Huggett said the restructure and additional officers at Yanchep would increase the station’s capacity to serve the community.

“With the increased numbers, the great thing is we will be able to work more closely with the community,” he said.

“There are a lot of benefits – one of the great things about the change is that we will have the same people responding to calls from the public as will be doing the investigations.

“Officers will get to know the community and the community will more readily recognise the officers.”

Snr Sgt Huggett said the growth of the sub-district, which now covers Nowergup as well as Alkimos, Carabooda, Eglinton, Two Rocks and Yanchep, posed both challenges and opportunities.

“This is the closest thing to country policing within the metropolitan area,” he said.

“We will certainly be targeting illicit drug use and volume crime.

“Family violence, like everywhere else, is an issue – a lot of time and resources is spent responding to family violence.”

Opening hours at the Yanchep Beach Road station will continue to be 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. The nearest 24-hour station is Joondalup.