Inside the water police team tackling emergencies on WA waters as cops issue stern warning to boaties

Skippers’ complacency is the biggest challenge for WA’s water police, who are gearing up for a busy summer as boaties head out on the water. Acting Senior Sergeant Diana Flint has encouraged skippers, divers and swimmers to explore the State’s magnificent 12,000km coastline, but to do so vigilantly. She urged skippers to ensure their vessels were equipped with life-jackets, an EPIRB, flare and first-aid kit. “Your best chance in an emergency starts with preparation,” she said. “(In winter), the vessels have been in hibernation mode, so before you’re heading out and you’re going to be utilising these vessels. . . you want to make sure that your vessel is mechanically sounds and all your safety gear is on board and in date. “Complacency is the biggest issue we have with recreational skippers, we get too used to going out on the water and sometimes we forget to make sure that our equipment is all up to date. . . and these are the things that can make us unstuck.” The West Australian was given a behind-the-scenes trip on a police launch recently. The Water Police unit — stationed at North Fremantle and Peel — is equipped with nearly a dozen patrol vessels, including the Cygnet V. The specialised 18-metre boat used for search and rescue and dive patrols. WA Police are in charge of marine search and rescue operations, adding they were “ready to go and respond immediately”. “Water Police’s core function is search and rescue, we spend a lot of time training our staff and working with other partner agencies,” sen sgt Flint said. “We co-ordinate all marine search and rescues for the entire State operating 24/7, so if we get a distress call, a may day call or an EPIRB (alarm), it’s coordinated right here out of the Fremantle base.” Water Police is also home to eight dedicated police divers, who scour the State’s waterways — including ocean and riverbeds, dams and swamps — looking for missing persons, lost property and evidence. “People think that quite often when they throw something out in the water it’s gone forever, but we go looking for murder weapons to looking for small jewellery,” senior constable police diver Brody Baker said. “One time I found a big ring with a massive diamond on it — I thought it was costume jewellery (because) it was so large. . . but we found out it was a $120,000 ring that had been stolen a few weeks earlier and had been dumped in the water.” He said missing persons cases were often challenging, but that officers were “always hoping for the best outcome”. “When we get (the outcome we want), it’s always a massive achievement. . . it’s something that you’re hoping for and planning for,” Const Baker said. “We plan for everything, and hopefully we come up with the outcome we’re looking for.” Perth is gearing up for one of its hottest Christmas’ on record, with the mercury predicted to tip to a sizzling 41C on Christmas Day, and police are expecting many families to be out, on or about the water. “Be prepared, alert and responsible,”sen sgt Flint said. “If you’re a recreational diver and are heading out to explore our beautiful waterways, please take a few simple steps to protect yourself and others always. “Use a buddy system, stick to your training experience level, check your gear before every dive, tell someone of your plans, use a surface marker buoy so that you’re visible to boats and know your limits even I know your limits.”