At last week's meeting with the Minister for Police, Member for Mandurah, the Mental Health Commissioner and other key government and community representatives, we asked for five key actions to help address crime and antisocial behaviour in Mandurah's city centre.
We have deliberately focused on tangible, practical requests that we know work in other areas.
These key actions were arrived upon as a result of ongoing input, ideas, shared expertise and suggestions from many local organisations, groups and individuals all either concerned about antisocial behaviour and crime in our city, or dedicated to helping those most vulnerable people in our community.
We listened during the Mandurah Matters community consultation campaign and at the community rally organised by the Member for Dawesville.
We participated in many steering group and board meetings, and held many one-on-one meetings, in the united goal of finding solutions that may work for our community.
We supplemented all of this with the data and statistics, the expert advice and the better practice research, and arrived at the following:
- WA Police Mental Health Co-Response in Mandurah as a priority.
- A trial of intensive outreach services to those who are the hardest to assist.
- Proactive patrolling by Police in the city centre during peak periods for an extended period.
- Increased access to drug treatment services.
- Improved connection between police and city security and a commitment to seek Prohibitive Behaviour Orders for individuals regularly committing crimes or displaying serious antisocial behaviour.
The meeting went well, and I'm grateful to those in attendances.
There is now some further work to be done on the details of these requests, but early indications are that it looks like most will be going ahead over the coming months.
We will keep the community updated on the outcomes.
Rhys Williams is City of Mandurah mayor.
