WA Police opens command centre in Telstra exchange

WA Police Force is now operating a central command centre out of Telstra’s Wellington Street exchange tower in Perth.

In what is being touted as an Australian-first, the centre’s location was chosen for its security, power resiliency and its proximity to telecommunications infrastructure.

The force said in a statement that the new centre “combines the services and resources of the former State Operations Command Centre (SOCC) and Police Operations Centre into one high-tech, purpose-built facility.”

“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,” it said.

“To future proof the facility, the [new] 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.”

WA Police said it had designed the centre in collaboration with “global leaders in technology and advanced 24/7 operations centres management to ensure [it] meets current and future technology-based policing needs.”

"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,” WA premier Roger Cook said.

"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,” added police minister Paul Papalia.

Telstra said the Wellington Street exchange is home to 88 power systems, including battery banks and “four marine-grade generators”.

“WA Police’s move to establish a state operations command centre within Telstra’s iconic Wellington Street facility is proof of [its drive] to consistently be at the forefront of innovation,” Telstra InfraCo CEO Brendon Riley said in a separate statement.

“Our iconic Perth facility, one of a number that Telstra has around the country, offers the highest levels of security and ultra-low communications latency, both critical for a command centre of this type.  

“It also provides excellent power and connectivity resiliency and will literally put WA Police as close as they can possibly get to our state’s most critical piece of telecommunications infrastructure.”