New $30 million Palmerston Police Station to open in less than a month
IN what is believed to be an Australian first the new Palmerston Police Station will have a dedicated nursing room for breast feeding cops. Look at our exclusive pictures from inside.
Northern Territory
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NT cops will soon move into the state of the art Palmerston Police Station, which has been kitted out with a ballistic proof front counter, desk space for about 50 cops and a spacious sunlit watch house with more than 20 cells.
The cop shop, which is also cyclone 4 graded will open in less than a month on September 2.
Senior Sergeant Trevor Owen was instrumental in designing the police station and watch house and made a point in making the facility friendly for the cops working there as well as for people who may be taken into custody and placed in the watch house.
“We’ve worked really hard to make this the most state of the art watch house in Australia as part of the design process I went and stayed in and reviewed other recent builds by other major police jurisdictions interstate and asked them what they loved about their facility and what they thought was great and what points they missed,” he said.
“We are without doubt the most up-to-date, modern and state-of-the-art custodial facility in Australia.”
He said cops had already put their name down to be considered to work at the new station.
The station, will also have a dedicated nursing room for cops that are breastfeeding their children as well as baby changing facilities in the mens and women's locker rooms.
The request was put in after Assistant Commissioner of Regional Operations Narelle Beer visited the construction site and suggested the facilities be included.
Police Minister Nicole Manison said the new station and watch house would mean Palmerston officers would be able to spend more time in the community rather than commuting people in custody into the Darwin city watch house.
“It is going to really set the standard Australia wide, it’s something that we are really proud of,” she said.
“Most importantly, and what I’m pleased about is it means our Palmerston police will get the facility they deserve.
“This is going to give them the facilities to do their job and keep them on the road in Palmerston for longer.”
The station will officially begin operating on September 2.
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