Matt Keogh.
Camera IconMatt Keogh. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Burt MHR Keogh calls for more police in south-east metro area

Francis CurroComment News

Mr Keogh said the crime statistics confirmed that Premier Colin Barnett and Police Minister Liza Harvey had “dropped the ball on crime”.

“The South-East Metro Police District is the only metro district to not have two 24-hour publically accessible police stations and we wonder why this area has the highest crime rates,” he said.

“WA Labor has committed to a 24-hour police station in Armadale and the resources that will require, which is a key component to fixing the recent crime spike.

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“While violent crime generally and burglaries are of concern to the community, we must never forget that the largest offence group in this area is domestic violence.”

“We need to ensure our local services, like Starick and the Gosnells Community Legal Centre, are funded sustainably for the long-term as a vital first step towards assisting our large number of victims of domestic violence in Burt, as well as to continue to raise awareness and work to break cycles of violence.”

Mr Keogh said it was important not to let statistics cloud the public view of the southeastern suburbs.

“We can’t let these issues detract from the great things we know and love about this area,” he said.

“Burt has more people coming to live in it than any other area of WA right now – the crime issue also reflects the lack of infrastructure investment across the south-east metro that I will continue |to fight to fix but we should |be proud of our growing, vibrant and diverse community, with all its natural beauty as well.

Ms Harvey said crime had been steadily declining in WA over the past six months.

“The drivers of crime are complex but under the Frontline 2020 Metro Operating Model there are 200 more police officers on the frontline, 15 per cent more prosecutions and 22 per cent more police vehicles patrolling on weekends,” she said.

“The Liberal-National government will have delivered an additional 1050 police and auxiliary officers between 2008 and 2017, along with tough mandatory sentencing laws for repeat home burglars and home invaders, which Labor spoke at length against.”