Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER police have created a Safer Maylands Facebook page to enlist more locals in the fight against crime.

Senior Sergeant Dave Whitnell says they are looking for community leaders to become co-editors of the site and add content.

The page includes warnings about recent crimes and tips on crime prevention: “Three reported offences in the Maylands area recently. Burglary in Rupert Street where a laptop was taken. Wheelie bin stolen from Darby Street and a taxi broken into in Eighth Avenue.”

The page was launched at a recent Maylands crime forum, attended by around 40 locals, including Bayswater council candidate and local resident Catherine Ehrhardt.

“The strongest discussion centred around homelessness in the area,” she says.

“I think the safer Maylands page is great and people have been responding well to knowing exactly what is going on in the area with crime.

“We are hoping to put some more content in relation to crime prevention and some more public forums to really get the conversation going.”

Traders and residents on Eighth Avenue have been plagued with anti-social behaviour in recent years.

While discussing the crime forum, Ms Ehrhardt couldn’t resist having a pop at mayor Sylvan Albert, her rival in south ward.

“It was extremely disappointing that neither Cr Albert nor Cr John Rifici attended this meeting,” she says.

“Unfortunately, we are rather used to having south ward councillors that aren’t seen in their local community now.”

To check out Safer Maylands go to http://www.facebook.com/safermaylands.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK