Police on the move

Perth will eventually have four metropolitan districts, each closely matched in officer numbers and demand.

The model relies on running districts with at least 500 sworn personnel and is made up of response, local police and investigation teams and a district control centre. The response teams are responsible for high-priority jobs, while local police teams focus on ongoing local issues.

Investigation teams are made up of detectives and the district control centre provides 24/7 monitoring and co-ordination.

The South Metro will be the next district to undergo the change in September, which will include the addition of the Peel district.

A Regional Operations Group, which is based at Maylands will also join the district.

By the end of the year, Central and East will form another district, along with North-West and West.

Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan will attend a community forum in Fremantle this month to address the community on how the changes will affect them.

‘The numbers of police coming into this district will increase by about 50-odd officers,’ he said. ‘Most of them will be going into the rapid response teams and investigation teams.’

Mr O’Callaghan said the extra officers would come from moving officers from behind desks onto the frontline.