Today marks the 50th anniversary of the West Australian Police Pipe Band.

The occasion will be marked with a march through the Perth Cultural centre on James Street, outside the WA Museum at 10am this morning.

The band is the only professional pipe band in WA.

Police director of media and corporate communications Neil Stanbury said the band had been the heartbeat of the WA Police since 1966.

“Nearly every police officer who’s graducated from the academy in that time has begun their career to the sound of the band, which is believed to ahve missed just two graduation parades in all that time, with those absemces as a result of being overseas,” Mr Stanbury said.

Last year it played 240 engagements.