Porsche Panamera goes on patrol

NEW South Wales police have taken delivery of a $201,000, 250km/h Porsche Panamera patrol car, but potential speedsters can rest easy – the car’s prime duty will be the community engagement beat.

Dressed for the part in the usual police vehicle livery, the V6-powered 220kW Panamera loan car is the first Porsche ever provided by the German sports car company to an Australian police force.

Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) says the car is designed to create curiosity on the roads and at public events, attracting people so police officers can engage them on local issues.

PCA managing director Michael Winkler said Porsche had a strong community spirit and was proud to work with the NSW Police on the initiative.

“This is the first time we’ve made available a Porsche to any police force in Australia, and the curiosity factor alone of a Panamera in police decals should help the NSW Police achieve awareness and engage people in its community programs,” he said.

From top: Porsche Cars Australia's Paul Ellis and NSW assistant commissioner Mark Murdoch Porsche Panamera, Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore police cars.

The Panamera will spend six months with the NSW Police’s Harbourside Command Crime Management Unit in Sydney’s north, with an option for a further six months.

Supt Alan Sicard said the Porsche would be an ice breaker when talking with young people whose perceptions of police were often negative.

“The Porsche gives us a chance to talk to kids on an informal basis outside the legal system in the hope that we can influence them and help them make a positive contribution to society,” he said.

Police forces around Australia have used similar tactics with other exotic vehicles, but probably none with the impact of the Porsche.

In Victoria, Holden regularly supplies the local police force with specially dressed V8 police vehicles to stand out on the highway, while high-performance vehicles such as Subaru WRXs have been used on highway patrol duties.