The Honda Civic Type R has a flashy new job with Australia's New South Wales Police Force. The hot hatch will serve with the cops' Eyewatch social media initiative for getting people to engage with local law enforcement on social media. Sadly, it won't be chasing down speeders. 

Gallery: Honda Civic Type R New South Wales police

Honda Australia donated the Civic Type R to the NSW Police Force for 12 months. The hot hatch wears a livery just like the state's cop cars on patrol and has the Eyewatch initiative logo. The Honda even has flashing lights. The law enforcement organisation intends to take the vehicle to big public events and schools in hopes of attracting young people and making them more comfortable with interacting with the police.

"The eye-catching design of the vehicle will hopefully be a great conversation starter while on display and get more people, especially younger people, more comfortable with approaching their local police," New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Cassar said in the Type R's announcement.

 

The current Civic Type R has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 316 bhp and 295 pound-feet of torque. The only gearbox option is a six-speed manual. A three-mode adjustable suspension also comes standard. For the 2019 model year, the hot hatch gains a revised infotainment system with physical buttons and a volume knob. The cupholders are bigger, too.

The New South Wales Police Force has a history of having cool vehicles in its fleet. For example, the cops started using a Lexus RC F to promote road safety in 2016. A year later, an Audi S7 took on a similar role.

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Honda Civic Type R Joins the NSW Police Force

Honda’s Civic Type R hot hatch the latest recruit to join NSW Police Force

Civic Type R wrapped in full ‘Police’ livery will be used to promote the Eyewatch social media initiative and engage with the public at a local community level

SYDNEY, March 13, 2019 – Honda’s multi award-winning Civic Type R high-performance hatch has just earned a new set of stripes after being recruited by the NSW Police Force.

As part of a 12-month sponsored partnership between Honda Australia and the NSW Police Force, the Civic Type R has joined the Eyewatch social media initiative, which has become an important communication tool for connecting people with their local police and encouraging them to be active participants in making their communities safer.

While the Civic Type R already has a powerful road presence, for its new role it has been wrapped in full ‘Police’ livery, including the distinctive ‘Eyewatch’ program logo, which is sure to see it attract plenty of attention wherever it goes throughout New South Wales over the coming months.

“Honda Australia is delighted to partner with the NSW Police Force and take an active role in raising awareness of the Eyewatch program to help make our communities safer,” said Honda Australia Director, Mr. Stephen Collins.

“The Civic Type R has been engineered from the ground up to deliver the most rewarding driving experience in the hot hatch segment. It has proven to be immensely popular with customers, enthusiasts and the motoring media, so we’re positive the NSW Police Force will find it to be a great community engagement tool.

“At Honda we believe in the power of helping others, so this sponsored partnership with the NSW Police Force aligns seamlessly with work of The Honda Foundation and its goal of making a difference in the lives of people through giving back to the community that supports them.”

The Eyewatch program was created in 2012 to connect local communities with their police via social media.  It has been an outstanding success in NSW with almost 1 million people connected via Facebook using over 70 Eyewatch pages daily. 

Police use Eyewatch to offer crime prevention and safety tips, seek community assistance to help locate missing or wanted people, and provide advice and information on local crimes, incidents and emergencies.  

Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar APM, Commander of the NSW Police Force Capability, Performance and Youth Command, said the addition of the sponsored Honda Civic Type R will allow Eyewatch officers to get out and about and raise awareness of the program, and engage with local communities, especially youth.

“The generosity of Honda Australia in providing this sponsored vehicle for 12 months also means it has the added benefit of being no cost to the tax payer.

“The eye-catching design of the vehicle will hopefully be a great conversation starter while on display and get more people, especially younger people, more comfortable with approaching their local police,” Assistant Commissioner Cassar added.

Leveraging its status as one of the most acclaimed hot hatches on the market today, the Civic Type R will be used by the NSW Police Force Eyewatch program at schools and community events across New South Wales throughout 2019.

Its first official duty as a new police recruit will be at the annual Fairfield Police and Community Expo on Saturday 16th March 2019 at Emerson Reserve in Wetherill Park, where it will be on display with various units of the NSW Police Force, including Local Police, Polair, Mounted Police, Dog Unit, Public Order and Riot Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol Cars and the Tactical Operations Unit.