Police officers forced to move out of City Station for 'foreseeable future'

The community has been reassured there will be no impact on policing in the city centre after it was revealed some staff some staff can no longer work safely at City Station.

However, some have slammed the ACT Government for allowing the situation with the building to reach this point.

City Station staff were informed on Wednesday afternoon (7 February) that they would be moved to “an alternative AFP work location” due to water damage in the building.

“To ensure the safety of our staff … [they will be moved] for the foreseeable future,” an ACT Policing spokesperson said.

“Front office and watch house operations will continue as normal at the station.”

Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan has been sounding the alarm about the condition of the City Police Station for years.

He previously told Region much more investment was needed in police stations right across the city.

“The city police station was built in 1966. It’s almost as old as me,” he said.

The ACT Policing statement also alluded to potential other issues in the building, stating that “monitoring of building issues in other parts of the premises” would continue to make sure they remained safe places to work.

An ACT Government spokesperson applauded the decision of police to take “proactive steps” to ensure the wellbeing and safety of officers at the station.

“Water damage on the ground floor of the City Police Station may pose health and environmental risks without proper remediation,” they said.

“The Justice and Community Safety Directorate is working with ACT Policing to remediate damage and determine the cause of the leaks.”

The spokesperson also insisted police services to the community would not be affected by this action and there would be no changes to patrol services.

The police union said the recent water damage wasn’t the first of the issues experienced at the site.

AFPA president Alex Caruana said the condition of the station had been a concern “for a while”.

“[The building] isn’t fit to be a functioning police station in its current state,” he said.

He vowed to continue lobbying the government to bring all ACT Policing sites up to scratch and called on the government to plan for the future.

“One of our election initiatives will be calling for planning to commence on a new City Police Station,” Mr Caruana said.

Former AFP detective sergeant and Belco Party Yerrabi candidate Jason Taylor said the station wasn’t fit for purpose when he started his policing career in 2007.

He questioned the government’s view that policing services wouldn’t be impacted.

“My understanding is that the relocation will be AFP Headquarters in Barton, which raises a number of practical and logistical concerns that this government needs to adequately address,” Mr Taylor said.

“It’s an extraordinary decision [to relocate officers], and one I don’t recall ever happening during my career.”

He pointed out the Yerrabi electorate has needed a new police station for “decades” and that others were in “dire need” of upgrades.

“Unfortunately, it appears we have a government that is prepared to use the successes of ACT Policing to spruik their abysmal record on law and order but will not support them where it truly counts,” Mr Taylor said.

“It’s pathetic and they need to be called out for it.”

Shadow Police Minister James Milligan pointed out he had been calling for the Gungahlin station to be improved for the past four years.

“Not only does the ACT continue to have the lowest number of police per capita in the country, but our hardworking police officers are not being provided with adequate stations and resources.

“Our police deserve to be supported and it is disappointing they are not receiving that support from the Police Minister [Mick Gentleman] who continues to fail in his portfolio.

“The minister must explain why he cannot provide the ACT with an adequate police force and resources that are fit for purpose.”