The Queensland Police Service has expanded its aerial capabilities with a new helicopter on the Sunshine Coast.
The chopper, launched last week, is expected to enhance community safety by assisting police in tracking stolen vehicles, arresting offenders and locating missing persons.
The aircraft has a high-tech camera system with infrared, moving map and vehicle tracking to support law enforcement efforts on the ground, helping police effectively and efficiently respond to incidents and keep the community safe.
A pilot, camera operator and police observer work together on board to assist crews on the ground.
The state-of-the-art helicopter will cover the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay areas.
It will bolster Queensland’s POLAIR fleet, making it the largest aerial police capability in Australia.
It comes after the Sunshine Coast had a 9.5 per cent youth crime reduction in the first six months of this year, in comparison to the same period last year.
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Police Minister Mark Ryan said the helicopter was a worthwhile investment in the region.
“We’re continuing to provide frontline police officers with advanced technology and equipment to enable a high quality of service to the community,” he said.
“I know this new helicopter will make a big difference in keeping communities safe across the Sunshine Coast.”
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said it would make an impact.
“We’ve seen the difference a Poliar helicopter can make in Townsville, so I’m delighted to see the same capability on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“I know that our hardworking police will welcome this game-changing asset.”
Surf Lifesaving Queensland has been appointed as the successful contractor ahead of the procurement of a permanent POLAIR resource for the North Coast region.
SLSQ aviation CEO Ken Clark said it would be a strong relationship.
“We are looking forward to assisting in the aerial support services for the Queensland Police Service and are confident in our pilot’s ability to work with the police to support the local Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay Burnett communities,” he said.
“We have vast experience in flying aircraft for the police and are always looking to develop with continual improvement in the support of aerial support services.”
