Tasmania Police will double its armoured vehicle fleet after accepting a gifted Lenco BearCat from Western Australia Police.
The 2012 model armoured vehicle will be the second BearCat in the Tasmania Police fleet, assigned to the Special Operations Group to boost coverage across the state’s north, north-west and south.
Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said the addition would strengthen the force’s ability to respond to dangerous situations including sieges and armed offender incidents.
“The BearCat is bullet and blast resistant and is designed to support the safe deployment of specialist police, as well as the extraction of injured persons or members of the public from high risk environments,” he said.
Bodnar said the vehicle could carry up to around 10 specialist operators at once, depending on the equipment they’re carrying.
It also comes fitted with recording equipment, loud hailers, winches and ramming gear.
“It gives us the opportunity to remove people from immediate danger where we need to remove victims,” he said.
“It also allows us to get negotiators in these vehicles and get them closer to the scene where it’s appropriate.”
The existing BearCat has been used on six occasions the past year, all for firearm-related incidents.
Bodnar said the two vehicles would be split between the state’s regions, improving response times and coverage.
“Tasmania Police SOG currently operates a combination of armoured assets positioned across the State,” he said.
“The inclusion of this gifted BearCat will allow improved coverage in both northern and southern regions, increasing operational flexibility and resilience during critical incidents.”
The vehicle weighs around nine tonnes and is due to arrive in Tasmania this weekend.
It will undergo maintenance, registration and operator training before it’s put into service.
Bodnar said people shouldn’t be alarmed if they spot it on the road.
“The BearCat will not be used for general duties or patrols and will only be deployed in circumstances where specialised armoured protection is required,” he said.
The transfer came about after WA Police recently bought new BearCats, freeing up the older model.
Bodnar said the arrangement was an example of cooperation between Australian policing agencies.
