North Shore LAC - NSW Police Force 3.5

North Shore Local Area Command is part of North West Metropolitan Region. The command is bordered by LAC’s of Harbourside, Northern Beaches, Kuring Gai & Gladesville. Chatswood Station is the LAC’s main operational station now that Lane Cove station has been closed.

There are general duties teams that patrol the LAC. Other units within North Shore LAC are the Crime Management Unit, Detectives, Education Officer, Beats & Proactive team. Transits & Crime Scene are also attached to Chatswood Police Station, but cover many other LAC's along wtih Chatswood. North Shore LAC do not have Highway Patrol, but are supported by Kuring Gai Highway.

Willoughby, Lane Cove & Kuring Gai Councils cover the suburbs of North Shore LAC, being Linley Point, Riverview, Greenwich, Northwood, St Leonard’s, Lane Cove, Naremburn, Artarmon, Northbridge, Willoughby, Chatswood, Castlecrag, Middle Cove, Castle Cove, Roseville, Roseville Chase, Lindfield and some of the southern end of Killara.

There are numerous locations of interest within the LAC. Royal North Shore Hospital, Channel Nine and SBS TV studios, 2UE Radio Studio, and a Shell Bulk Oil Terminal provide some of our critical infrastructure. In addition to these sites the Command also plays home to the three main Television Transmission Towers for all free to air TV in Sydney. Large parts of the Command are bordered by Sydney Harbour foreshores and tributaries, as well as significant sections of the Lane Cove and Garigal National Parks.

The Pacific Highway runs directly through the centre of the LAC. Epping Road/Gore Hill freeway transverses the North Shore LAC from Lane Cove West to Naremburn. The Lane Cove Tunnel also runs through and the Command, and it has already produced its first major incident when part of the Tunnel collapsed at Lane Cove in November 2005. The Lane Cove Tunnel officially opened in March 2007.

The train line parallel through the heart of the LAC, with stations at St Leonard’s, Artarmon, Chatswood, Roseville, Lindfield & Killara. The upgraded Chatswood train station, being completed in early 2009, is expected to increase the amount of persons coming in and out of the area. A link to Epping is due to be completed at the end of 2007. North Shore Commuter Crime Unit is based out of Chatswood and cover North Shore LAC along with other neighbouring commands.

Chatswood Central Business District is located in the middle of the LAC. It contains a six storey Westfield Shopping Centre, Chatswood Chase & a busy Mall area joining the two. North Shore Beats respond to the majority of crime in this area. Chatswood Police Station is housed in the vicinity of the shopping centres.