Perth Voice Interactive

Spotlight on safety centre

IT has 700 cameras, is staffed by security experts and police, takes calls 24-7, and costs the council millions a year to run, but less than 15 per cent of Perth’s residents know the City’s surveillance centre exists.

This week lord mayor Basil Zempilas launched a publicity campaign trying to raise awareness of the City’s 24-7 security service. 

Mr Zempilas has been keen on bringing more residents into Perth, but a staff report on his population plan said that safety would have to be improved to attract more people.

Aggression

The report said student accommodation providers “fear that students may fall victim to physical and verbal aggression, potentially damaging the reputation of future universities. 

“They recommend increasing police presence beyond the core retail area. 

“Additionally, a high-end developer noted that, despite the high land prices allowing for high-end residential development, the area was not reflective of a luxurious price point due to safety and security concerns.”

At the June 20 council briefing Mr Zempilas said that at a consultation session with East Perth residents, it emerged that many had never heard of the hotline.

He said they need people to report issues so they know what’s going on and can work with police on making the city safer, and they’ve stuck their branded “See it, say it” hotline on bollards throughout the city.

Mr Zempilas said, “call 9461 3333 to let us know about something that might have made you feel unsafe. It might be antisocial behaviour, you might want to request a welfare check on someone you’ve passed in the street or you might simply have seen someone spill their milkshake and it needs to be cleaned up.” 

He said 000 was still the go-to number for issues more serious than spilt milkshakes.

The renewed campaign and pledge to act on tips comes two months after the hotline was criticised for ineffectiveness by a city shop manager at the April 26 council meeting. 

“The city has become a frightening place to work,” 

De Williams, a clothes retailer who was formerly based in Leederville, told councillors. 

“I have been a manager for Hurly Burly for two years, and my staff now feel unsafe working on Barrack Street.

“On a daily basis customers are either violent, or steal.”

She said they used to be able to call the surveillance centre phone number (after finding the regular police line was putting them on hold for too long) and either a ranger or police would attend. But Ms Williams had observed a recent shift, and “now they say the police won’t allow them to call on a store’s behalf”. 

Mr Zempilas promised to look into it and make sure security staff were still working closely with police. 

by DAVID BELL