Mobile police unit hits the streets of Bass Coast

THERE’S a new police member in town. She’s tall, shiny and has technology to boot.

She has the ability to be run off mains power or a specialised European technology generator with back up batteries in case things go south, and whilst on first appearances she looks like a large, heavily branded Victoria Police minivan, the capabilities inside are next level – a true ‘jack of all trades’.

She is also brand new and barely two weeks old.

The second Mobile Policing Unit (MPU) for Eastern Region, and number eight of nine, she is a welcomed addition to Bass Coast Police who have the opportunity to try all her bells and whistles for the upcoming schoolies period on Phillip Island.

With the ability to be moved around as needed, in any given week, MPU may appear at a crime hot spot to deter offending, be deployed to a critical incident such as a siege, serve as a co-ordination point for large-scale search and rescue operations in remote areas, or be based at a major sporting event or music festival.

The units will serve as central police coordination points for incidents, allowing the Police Forward Commander responsible for making strategic decisions affecting members on the frontline to be based in the field, rather than managing the police response from a station or office removed from the action.

Police will also utilise the MPUs as coordination points for large scale search and rescue operations in remote areas that are often difficult to access by road for ill equipped vehicles.

Each unit can also be used as an additional vehicle on Victoria’s roads that has the ability to process offenders for drink and drug driving.

Lastly, Victoria Police will base MPUs at major events such as large sporting events, music festivals, and local community events - serving as a central hub at the event for police to engage with the community and also monitor any anti-social or criminal behaviour.

After schoolies MPU Bass Coast have scheduled a beach safety operation working alongside other organisations.

A home away from home for members, the vehicle automatically links to air wing and has the capabilities to link with police networks and CCTV to ensure safe streets.

The two prototypes, rolled out during COVID, were put to the test and received a hammering with additional improvements made on later models.