WA’s head cop praises Mandurah officers and shares crime insights

Mr Dawson said the visit on January 16 was not for any particular reason, but an opportunity to meet with officers face-to-face and ensure they were equipped with the “right resources, training, direction and strategies”.   

“As commissioner I obviously have a responsibility in overseeing what is the largest police jurisdiction, by land mass, in the world – two-and-a-half million square kilometres,” he said. 

“Trying to visit 200-odd police stations is a bit of a task when we live in such a vast state.”

The state’s top cop said the management team, including Superintendent Andy Greatwood, Senior Sergeant Darren Hart and Detective Senior Sergeant Trevor Troy, should receive credit for their efforts in the area. 

“They run the show,” Mr Dawson said. ​

“I just want to make sure the troops have the right direction and training. 

“For me it’s an affirmation process.

“I get to see the great work that they are doing, encourage them and give them clarity on why we are doing certain things – but they are the people that are actually doing it so all the credit should go to them.”

Mr Dawson said crime across the state has been on the decline in recent years, but always “ebbed and flowed”. 

“Broadly across the state they have been going down over the past few years, which is a really good thing,” he said. 

Stealing offences were a continual challenge for Mandurah officers, which Mr Dawson believes is related to drug users funding their habits. 

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“I have been briefed on some big arrests they have just had; one place was described as an ‘Aladdin's cave’, in which they seized a whole lot of property that had been stolen from around the area,” he said. 

“A lot of this is driven by drugs, we know this, particularly meth or ice.

“So we know there is a relationship between drug abuse and stealing offences.”

Mr Dawson said motor vehicle theft was on the decline in the district. 

This is reflected in the WA Police crime statistics, which show car theft has dropped from 122 reports in 2012/13 to 63 reports in 2017/18.

Robberies are also down from 30 reports (12/13) to 18 reports (17/18) as well as home burglary reports; 131 (12/13) to 64 (17/18).

The issue of drugs in the region was reflected in the statistics with 158 related offences in 12/13, increasing to 348 reports in 17/18. 

This includes dealing, cultivating, manufacturing and possessing drugs. 

Mr Dawson said Mandurah was a good location choice for the largest-ever Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games (APES) held October 28 to November 3, 2018. 

“I was really impressed with the facilities,” he said.

“We knew WA was going to host, but we were really struggling to find the right place to do it.

“Mandurah turned out to be a surprise packet and a very good choice being by the water and beach.

“I was really impressed by the way the city helped with what was ultimately a great outcome for everyone.”

Senior Sergeant Hart said Mr Dawson’s visit was “overwhelmingly positive”. 

“He was appreciative of our efforts and and understands our district covers a large area and we are doing a good job,” he said. 

“In my view, Mandurah Police Station is kicking goals across the board.”

Like Mr Dawson, Senior Sergeant Hart said there were ebbs and flows in crime.

“Since our restructure crime has trended up slightly, not because of the restructure, but just in general,” he said. 

“We are well under the five-year average of reported offences, which is a more reliable snapshot of how we are going.

“You can’t keep driving crime down – it will eventually plateau.”

Senior Sergeant Hart said the Mandurah District, covering Kwinana, Rockingham, Mandurah, Pinjarra and Dwellingup, was one of the fastest-growing areas in WA. 

“With population growth comes more people and more opportunities for crime,” he said. 

“That is one of the challenges. 

“The increase in offending is not alarming but is in line with population growth.”

To view Mandurah's crime statistics, visit the WA Police website.