The Western Australia Water Police was established in 1851 and are have three bases, North Fremantle, Mandurah and Dampier.
Forty sworn police officers and civilian staff operate and maintain eight patrol boats ranging from 5m to 22m in length. They are responsible for Western Australia's 13,000 kilometres of coastline, and more than 100,000 registered pleasure craft.
In April 2006, North West Water Police at Dampier was established with its primary function being counter terrorism security control and emergency response. North West Water Police is permanently staffed by four sworn police officers who operate the 22-metre vessel "Delphinus" on extended patrols throughout the North West. "Fly in-fly out" staff from North Fremantle make up the crew on these patrols.
Our roles
Water Police consists of:
- Boating Section;
- Diving Operations;
- Marine Investigations; and
- Water Police Coordination Centre.
The WA Police is the Hazard Management Authority for sea search and rescue in Western Australia. In the metropolitan area, we are responsible for fulfilling this role and provide support and advice to the regional police districts.
Water Police also coordinate Marine Watch and work closely with other government agencies.
Diving Operations
During the early 1950s, a WA police officer named Theo Brown, with training and experience as a diver, was utilised for body recovery and other diving tasks. He worked alone or with civilian volunteers at a dive site.
In 1958, another police officer, Bill Foster, approached the department to form a part-time squad of divers. This request was granted and seven police officers were selected and trained by the Underwater Explorers Club of Woodman Point. Six weeks later, the squad was increased to 14 divers. Police divers provided all their own equipment and the Police Department provided a Hookah and Medi-Air Cylinders for surface supply.
The Diving Squad is now an established component of the WA Water Police. Each police diver is issued with a complete set of personal diving equipment, which is their responsibility to maintain.
The WA Police Dive Squad is constantly evolving to meet a changing policing environment. The Squad now has members trained by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence in Post Blast Underwater Crime Scene Investigation.
The Dive Squad is also acquiring side scan sonar technology for mapping underwater terrain and detecting objects underwater such as deceased persons, weapons and other property. With side scan sonar, divers spend less time searching in the water, dramatically increasing both divers' safety and the quality of the search. Effectively reducing the amount of searching required in Search and Rescue.
Marine Investigations
The Marine Intelligence and Investigations section was established in 1998 and provides specialised intelligence and investigative support to the Water Police.
The Intelligence section is responsible for the collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of information from the community and other sources.
Water Police Coordination Centre (WPCC)
The WPCC coordinates marine search and rescue (SAR) operations within the greater metropolitan area (Two Rocks to Mandurah). The centre assists with extensive searches throughout the waterways of Western Australia and officers are nationally qualified Search and Rescue Mission Controllers for both land and sea SAR operations.
The specialist skills of WPCC Operators are further enhanced with sophisticated computer software that produces search areas that can be transposed onto a marine chart. Search areas can be generated for missing boats or for people adrift in the water.
Civil SAR or police aircraft, government, commercial and/or volunteer marine rescue group vessels may also be called upon to assist during a SAR operation. In WA, 37 volunteer marine rescue groups are placed along our coast between Wyndham in the north and Esperance in the south.
Marine Watch
The Marine Watch crime prevention initiative complements Neighbourhood Watch, Rural Watch and School Watch.
Coastal police stations have a designated Local Marine Liaison Officer to help the community with reporting unusual or suspicious marine activity. Water Police Officers also liaise with marine communities such as yacht clubs and marinas to help Marine Watch remain an effective part of community policing.
Call police on 131 444 to report suspicious marine activity and only call 000 for emergencies.
Boating safety
Maximise your chances of survival, when the unexpected happens, by notifying a relative, friend or your Marine Rescue Group of your intended movements and your expected time of return.
If you intend to stay out longer, advise the people you have notified and just as importantly, advise them when you have returned safely to shore.
HF - 6215, 4125, 8291 and 8176
VHF - 16 and 67
Reporting stolen property
Up to date lists are kept for stolen marine engines, vessels and marine electronics. If you wish to inquire whether or not articles are stolen, full personal details must be supplied with your request. Water Police can be contacted 24 hours a day on (08) 9442 8600.
Information on marine crime will be received confidentially. Information can also be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Rewards are available.
More information:
Water Police
Harvest Road, North Fremantle
Tel: (08) 9442 8600
Water Police Coordination Centre
Tel: (08) 9442 8606
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