Front page story in today's "West"

[Zebedee]

Over lunch I was reading the front page story on how the Police service are considering making cuts to their vehicle fleet and replacing cars like the Ford XR6 Turbo with the basic XT model, or the Holden SV6 with the Omega.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa ... udget-axe/

I can't say I'm a fan of that idea. As the gentleman from the RAC is quoted as saying in the news article, the police should be resourced appropriately with the vehicles they need to get the job done properly and safely. Police Minister Johnson originally said that budget cuts would be to non-operational police vehicles and that budget cuts wouldn't affect front-line policing. Well, from where I sit, it doesn't seem like that's an accurate statement if these proposed changes go ahead...

For what it's worth, I hope the police can find a way to keep the cars that they need (otherwise why would they have bought them in the first place?) and that if cuts are to be made, they can be made from somewhere else. Personally I think essential services such as policing should be resourced better than they are now, I think they should be receiving more funding rather than being asked to cut back, but that's just my opinion

[robbage]

federal pollies just got approval for another increase. Maybe they can cancel that and invest it in policing, teaching, nursing etc.

[d3funct.q45]

I would like to see a reduction in the amount of "art" the vehicles have... I can only imagine it costs thousands more to decal a TE vehicle as opposed to a normal 101 sedan.

They should streamline ALL vehicles with the same decals, making it cheaper. Theres no need for every TE vehicle to have the latest lightbars + excessive decals to "stand out".

That money saved can help keep the vehicular resources they need.

[ConstableCare]

I would like to see a reduction in the amount of "art" the vehicles have... I can only imagine it costs thousands more to decal a TE vehicle as opposed to a normal 101 sedan.

They should streamline ALL vehicles with the same decals, making it cheaper. Theres no need for every TE vehicle to have the latest lightbars + excessive decals to "stand out".

That money saved can help keep the vehicular resources they need.

I disagree. The intent of the WAPOL TEG is High Visibility Policing and is a specialist unit. Every other state have vehicles marked up for their TOG's...

Furthermore, the "latest lightbars" are being utilised throughout the fleet as the older units are phased out...

What the Gov't needs to do is stop pussyfooting around, wasting money on what is NOT required and allocate the money to frontline services!

CC

[Walks]

Specialist - NO

Dedicated - YES

Walks

[ConstableCare]

Specialist - NO

Dedicated - YES

Walks

Let me clarify Walks, when I stated specialist I mean it's not your average "run of the mill" Traffic Dept. where GD's and Traffic mix - they are purely a Traffic Area.

CC

[ryno]

Yet the other states still have the V8's... go WA.

[written_ficton]

The difference between a V8 and a V6 in a standard commodore is a very minimal...

What is takes is a specialist driver with great driving skills and the ability to know and react accordingly in a chase or responding to an incident.

It doesnt take a genius to figure the arts of a chase..

[Fastlane]

The difference between a V8 and a V6 in a standard commodore is a very minimal...

I take it you haven't driven one then?

I drove an Omega for a few days a few weeks ago. The performance and handling doesn't come close to my SS-V.

[vk6hgr]

The difference between a V8 and a V6 in a standard commodore is a very minimal...

I take it you haven't driven one then?

I drove an Omega for a few days a few weeks ago. The performance and handling doesn't come close to my SS-V.

I've driven an Omega too. Heck, my Mitsubishi 380 has better performance! (ducks, runs for cover)

[written_ficton]

You admit to having one of those

[holden5541]

I think its pretty shameful really... Surely there are other government departments that could afford to maybe take a bigger cut so the Police wouldn't have to. I agree totally with Zebedee, if taking police cars off the road is not a reduction in front line services then what is? Its hard enought as it is to have Police attend a job where I need them (not a dig a Police- there just isn't enough of them!), with a reduction in vehicles I think the situation will get worse.

[Walks]

While there may appear to be very little between the two on paper.....thats as close as they ever get.

Drive a V6 at 100%.....you can do exactly the same at 80% in the V8...if you know what I mean.

Therefore V8 means more time to take in whats going on around you, whereas V6 means flogging its guts out just to stay in the game.

Walks.

This is Walks opinion and in no way reflects the view of WAPOL