A STATE politician has called for the City of Wanneroo to introduce security patrols to deter hooning, anti-social behaviour, noisy parties and neighbourhood disputes.
Girrawheen MLA Margaret Quirk raised the issue in State Parliament in mid-February, saying community expectations were not being met with police having to address matters better suited to security patrols and because ranger patrols finished 9pm daily.
“Their role is limited to enforcing by-laws, litter and illegal dumping, abandoned and off-road vehicles, unauthorised signs and the like,” she said.
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READ NOW“Residents are referred to police for hooning, antisocial behaviour, noisy parties and neighbourhood disputes.”
Ms Quirk said as those were lower priority matters, police attendance would be available only after officers dealt with all high-priority matters, such as serious assaults, family violence and an offender currently being on the property.
“The effect of this is that minor, but nevertheless trying, matters get little attention,” she said.
Ms Quirk said Wanneroo should adopt a 24/7 security patrol model similar to the one provided by the City of Stirling, which monitored and reported suspicious activity and anti-social behaviour.
According to Stirling’s website, its security patrols attend community disturbances such as noisy parties, regularly patrol crime hotspots and report damage and vandalism.
“In addition to the reactive work done by these City of Stirling patrols, a strong evidence-based crime prevention component based on first-hand information has been created,” Ms Quirk said.
“I fully endorse the City of Wanneroo, which now covers a distance of over 658sq km, adopting a similar approach.
“The current model simply is not working.”
The City’s community and place director Debbie Terelinck said Wanneroo already provided a 24/7 community safety service and residents could call 9405 5000 during office hours and 1300 138 393 after hours for assistance.
“This coverage is provided by City of Wanneroo rangers and safety patrol officers,” she said.
“Advice and assistance is available for a range of matters including patrols of City parks, reserves and buildings, preventing graffiti, vandalism and dumping of rubbish.”
Ms Terelinck said those services also helped with lost pets; dog and cat registration; dog beaches; reporting abandoned vehicles; off road vehicle access; unauthorised street and verge parking; and unauthorised signs in public areas.
“Police should be called for other matters including hooning and road policing, antisocial behaviour, alcohol and drug use or concerns, CCTV on private property or privacy concerns, noisy parties, neighbour disputes, burglary or robbery, assault or domestic violence,” she said.
“Residents should call police on 000 in an emergency or life-threatening situation or on 131 444 for police assistance in non-emergency situations.”
Wanneroo councillors agreed in 2018 to reduce patrol hours for its rangers to finish 9pm daily, with safety patrol officers covering calls received between 9pm and 6am.
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