Cairns cops get three new mobile police beats in statewide rollout

Cairns police have a new highly visible crime deterrent in their arsenal to be used in a running Far North battle against illegal activity. See inside the new police vehicles.

Cairns police have a new highly visible crime deterrent in their arsenal to be used in a running Far North battle against illegal activity.

Cairns officers have taken delivery of a new state-of-the-art mobile policing van in a Queensland government rollout of the specialty vehicles expected to number 50 by 2027.

The Palaszczuk government will deliver 25 new solar powered mobile police beats throughout Queensland.

Cairns police will receive three vehicles.

Cairns police have taken delivery of their first mobile police beat, a mobile office van which is suitable to conduct almost all police duties. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns City Police Beat Officer in Charge, Senior Sergeant Gary Hunter speaking from a problem crime area in Mooroobool said the new mini police station on wheels could be deployed to crime hot spots, events and major emergency incidents.

“(It) has the same attributes as a police station,” he said.

“People are welcome to come and speak to police manning this particular vehicle. We can take statements, make inquiries and we have computer access. And the beauty of this is, that we can put this particular vehicle in locations where it’s most needed.”

Senior Sergeant Gary Hunter and Senior Sergeant Geoff Stockall in front of the Mobile Police Beat van. Picture: Brendan Radke

Equipped with a large outward facing digital screen, office supplies and law enforcement equipment the new vans can also be used for random breath testing.

Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt at the launch of the new vehicle at Shang Park said the important innovation allowed police officers to become embedded in the community.

“Of course visible policing is a huge part of making sure that people feel comforted by the fact that they have the hardworking men and women of their police service out and about,” he said.

Senior Sergeant Gary Hunter inside the Mobile Police Beat van. Picture: Brendan Radke

“But equally the mobile police beat allows the police service to be very nimble in terms of the way they are operating.”

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the new resources would allow local police to better respond to the needs of the communities they served.

“Essentially these vehicles are a police station on wheels, with the ability to service the community in the same ways from taking statements, reporting crimes and allowing the public to seek advice from local police,” she said.

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Originally published as Cairns cops get three new mobile police beats in statewide rollout