- 24/7 State Operations Command Centre (SOCC) established in Perth CBD
- Contemporary multi-agency approach to provide enhanced emergency responses
- Staff from multiple Government departments co-located to enable seamless collaboration and information sharing
- State-of-the-art future proof design and fit out to ensure facility’s long-term suitability
Western Australia’s new State Operations Command Centre (SOCC) has officially opened, providing enhanced management, tactical intelligence and technical capability to support frontline officers and agency staff throughout the State.
The new hub combines the services and resources of the former SOCC and Police Operations Centre into one high-tech, purpose-built facility.
Department of Justice, Department of Communities and Department of Education personnel are also based in the new CBD facility, in addition to Mental Health Co-Response staff, enabling greater collaboration and information sharing than ever before.
During the Centre’s design phase, the WA Police Force engaged global leaders in technology and advanced 24/7 operations centres management to ensure the SOCC meets current and future technology-based policing needs.
Custom designed video walls can display live feeds from the Police Air Wing, officers’ body worn cameras, security camera footage, and automatic numberplate recognition alerts, among other things, to provide real-time decision-making.
To future proof the facility, the SOCC’s technical and network design includes over 50 kilometres of data cable, 200 power circuits, 13 kilometres of power cable, more than half a dozen switchboards and two kilometres of fibre optic cable.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“The new State Operation Command Centre will help keep the Western Australian public and WA Police Force officers safe today and into the future.
“As a technologically advanced facility, it compliments current WA Police assets and is designed to be able to seamlessly integrate advancements in equipment and software.
“This modern, multi-agency approach to policing and other emergencies is of significant benefit and will provide improved outcomes for all Western Australians.”
Comments attributed to Police Minister Paul Papalia:
“The State Operations Command Centre, in conjunction with other new high-tech assets like the Airbus H145 helicopters, body worn cameras and vehicle dash-cams, provide the WA Police Force with better situational awareness than ever before.
“The high-tech facility improves real-time data sharing from the frontline and other agency partners, giving officers vital information when responding to emergencies across WA.
“This will be further enhanced when our State-wide satellite communications rollout is complete, providing 550 vehicles and 129 police stations in regional or remote parts of WA with metropolitan equivalent connectivity.”
As stated by Police Commissioner Col Blanch:
“The Western Australian Police Force is solving crimes faster than ever before. For that, we can thank the WA community for their support, my officers and staff for their dedication, and our willingness as an agency to adopt innovative new techniques and technology.
“The new SOCC is a critical part of the technological revolution that is making policing better, and I thank the State Government for their investment in making WA an ever safer place to live. Not only will it make our community safer, it will make Police officers protecting our community safer.
“The multi-agency nature of the new SOCC means the right agency is right there responding to a situation. Because our partners are right there with us, we will have even more chances to cooperate and ensure the most appropriate care is provided to members of our community.
“I would like to thank the State Government for their support, Telstra for their ongoing support, and all our partner agencies and stakeholders who are joining us in the new SOCC to make our community a safer place to live and work.”
