Police complex officially opens

Police complex officially opens

The $230 million Victoria Police complex on Spencer St was officially opened last month.

Docklands’ local police, from Melbourne West Police Station, moved into the new station in May and have since been joined by employees from the Crime and Intelligence commands, North West Metropolitan Headquarters and Forensic Services.

The new complex is now home to more than 1500 Victoria Police staff and major crime and intelligence functions have been centralised in the building.  

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton joined Police Minister Wade Noonan on July 14 to officially open the building at the corner of Spencer and Latrobe streets.

Mr Noonan said the station would help Victoria Police fight crime and build a sense of community safety.

“The state-of-the-art police station will be a symbol of community safety, for years to come,” Mr Noonan said.

Planning for the building began in 2009 and construction began in 2012, before concluding earlier this year.

“After six years of planning and construction, we’re pleased to see the end result, with our 1500 staff moving in over the past few weeks,” Mr Ashton said.

“It’s the first purpose-built police property in the CBD since the Russell St police headquarters, which was built in 1943.”

“The policing landscape and environment in which we operate is very different these days, and we need the facilities and technology to support us in our work.”

The building houses an e-crime laboratory for digital evidence analysis and a dedicated floor permanently set-up to enable taskforces to start work at short notice.

It also contains witness and victim interview rooms, waiting areas for family members and a range of staff facilities including an outdoor terrace, gym, parent facilities, a multi-faith space and sleeping quarters.

Mr Ashton said the new complex would improve Victoria Police’s service to the community.

“It’s a modern complex for the next generation of policing,” Mr Ashton said.

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