A FREMANTLE business owner says more needs to be done to curb the violence and anti-social behaviour afflicting the CBD at all hours of the day.
Just after 8pm on Saturday night, Zapfhall owner Rhett Pace recorded three girls attacking each other with kicks, punches and foul language in the pass under his business, one girl seeming to land a kick to the head of one of the others before walking off with her friend.
Mr Pace said it was the latest in a never-ending list of violence and anti-social behaviour in the city centre, which could number as many as two to three incidents a day.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“I’m no expert but I think it’s a fairly safe bet to suggest that this kind of behaviour is scaring families, individuals and tourists away,” he said.
“There is a massive amount of adverse affects from scared patrons to faeces in doorways and people sleeping in front of business accesses.
“Everyday some kind of mess or rowdy behaviour is happening in the laneway outside Zapfhall.”
Mr Pace said it was a problem not just on Friday and Saturday nights, but at all hours of the day and more needed to be done to stop it otherwise businesses would suffer or someone would get seriously hurt.
“People don’t want to hang around in a place where this anti-social behaviour is always going on,” he said.
“My self and other business owners have invested heavily into bringing something to Fremantle for the benefit of the public.
“I’m all for opening a dialogue between all business owners, the council and the police, but more so can we just see some type of ownership and action.
“I don’t want to have to defend myself or fear for the safety of my employees.”
The City of Fremantle and Fremantle Police have been contacted for comment.