SOME Fremantle residents told a Community Briefing hosted by The Fremantle Network on Monday night that they do not feel safe in their suburb but Fremantle police argued crime was down in the suburb.
Residents raised issues such as wider bad language and drug use, and drinking and littering in the Woolstores area.
Acting officer in charge Detective Sergeant Phil Gazzone said verified offences were down in the suburb.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“Police can’t work in isolation, we need to call on the community and residents,” he said.
“When everyone works together it can help us be more efficient.
“Police are more reachable then ever with online reporting; we have a bike team, operation night safe.”
City of Fremantle community safety officer Christopher Scanlan addressed the concerns of dark spaces and said the City was in the process of improving the CCTV network in Fremantle.
“We are embracing technology such as using WhatsApp to share CCTV footage of offenders,” he said.
“We are also reviewing dark public spaces including at Princess May Park and Pioneer Reserve.”
New CCTV will be installed on the corner of Point and Cantonment streets in the next four to six weeks.
Chamber of Commerce President Ivan Dzeba, who has owned Benny’s for 18 years, discussed the economic situation of Fremantle.
“Fremantle needs to be better at how we market ourselves,” he said.
“There are so many positives and we need to show this to the wider community.
“Fremantle goes in cycles and I have seen the economic success go up and down.”
MORE: Anomalous weather events behind absence of 40C days in Perth this summer
MORE: Local Govt Minister David Templeman to suspend City of Perth council
MORE: Police warning after girl (7) approached by two men in Baldivis