Nemesis
07-15-2004, 09:03 PM
news.com.au (http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10142717%255E421,00.html)
By Greg Stoltz
July 15, 2004
IN the market for an armoured car? Queensland's Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence would like to hear from you.
Ms Spence has 13 Hummers - heavily armoured prison perimeter vehicles - to get rid of after the state government decided to replace the problem-plagued US-made fleet with Queensland-modified Holden Rodeos.
Corrective Services recalled the Hummers in May last year because of steering faults. Prison officers also complained the vehicles were uncomfortable.
Ms Spence yesterday unveiled the first of nine new perimeter patrol vehicles to replace the Hummers. She said they had been specially designed and modified by Queensland experts, with input from prison officers.
Gold Coast company Craig Ballistics helped design and build the first PPV which features armour plating, bullet-proof glass and gun ports.
The prototype is undergoing final specification checks before prison officers begin test driving them at Townsville and Wacol.
Ms Spence said she expected to have the full fleet of nine PPVs on patrol by early next year, providing improved safety for prison officers and the community.
Prison officer and Queensland Public Sector Union executive Peter Gow said he and his colleagues had been given extensive design input into the new vehicles and were "very happy" with the result.
"The officers are going to be protected to a level where, if there is ever an assault on a vehicle, they will survive," he said.
For the officers' added comfort, the new PPVs even feature a CD player for those long days and nights patrolling prison walls and fences.
The Courier-Mail
By Greg Stoltz
July 15, 2004
IN the market for an armoured car? Queensland's Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence would like to hear from you.
Ms Spence has 13 Hummers - heavily armoured prison perimeter vehicles - to get rid of after the state government decided to replace the problem-plagued US-made fleet with Queensland-modified Holden Rodeos.
Corrective Services recalled the Hummers in May last year because of steering faults. Prison officers also complained the vehicles were uncomfortable.
Ms Spence yesterday unveiled the first of nine new perimeter patrol vehicles to replace the Hummers. She said they had been specially designed and modified by Queensland experts, with input from prison officers.
Gold Coast company Craig Ballistics helped design and build the first PPV which features armour plating, bullet-proof glass and gun ports.
The prototype is undergoing final specification checks before prison officers begin test driving them at Townsville and Wacol.
Ms Spence said she expected to have the full fleet of nine PPVs on patrol by early next year, providing improved safety for prison officers and the community.
Prison officer and Queensland Public Sector Union executive Peter Gow said he and his colleagues had been given extensive design input into the new vehicles and were "very happy" with the result.
"The officers are going to be protected to a level where, if there is ever an assault on a vehicle, they will survive," he said.
For the officers' added comfort, the new PPVs even feature a CD player for those long days and nights patrolling prison walls and fences.
The Courier-Mail