Do you think we should have a full-time police presence throughout the CBD and major shopping complexes to help curb anti-social behavior/assaults/threats/abuse/thefts/violence against retailers and patrons? 

 I would like to bring to your attention; the anti-social behaviour/shoplifting/thefts/damage to property/assaults and verbal abuse that occurs to retailers/staff and members of the public on a daily occurrence within the Geraldton CBD, shopping centres and supermarkets.

Law and order is a major concern and so is mental health-which I believe is a contributing factor in some of the situations that retailers encounter on a daily basis. 

Verbal abuse, abusive behaviour, harassment, assault, threats of any kind on a retailer or anyone that works at these centres should have tougher penalties.

It should be mandatory that there be at least 2 security guards on duty at all times, regardless of venue or event. Larger stores and/or stores that are more isolated (not in line of sight of other retailers) should also have 2 staff on at all times.

The process for issuing banning notices needs to change. Stores are able to issue offenders a “banning notice”, however there are so many problems with this process. For example, retailers need to know the offender’s full name -the police will not assist in identifying the person. The retailer/store issuing the notice has to be the person responsible to “serve” it on the offender-this is difficult and dangerous. After a banning notice has been issued the police are able to charge these people with trespass but is this happening? This is a flawed system for many reasons.

There should be complete CBD bans on repeat offenders, regardless of age. This should be easy to monitor and enforce given all the CCTV cameras that are installed throughout the CBD. 

Youth crime is also a major issue. Where are the officers and liaison officers? Whatever happened to the banning of school aged kids from shops/centres and the CBD during school hours? This needs to be enforced and actions need to be taken. 

When a business has pressed their duress alarm and multiple calls to police are made, it should not take police over 30 minutes to respond.

When a call to police requesting assistance and a request to remove someone from an area is made, it should not be ignored until someone’s assaulted with a sharp object and the offender has left the area and IS a threat to the community (it wasn’t a targeted attack, anyone that crossed paths with that person was at risk).

What are the current staffing levels at the police station? 

People will say “just let them take it, it’s not worth it, don’t put yourself in danger” …. But by doing nothing and saying nothing makes this behaviour socially acceptable. When you avoid the centres or the CBD because of anti-social behaviour you are allowing it to be socially acceptable. 

This is a moment where the community, businesses, retailers and their families are screaming out for action, but “your ear’s must be painted on”. 

Soon no one will want to work in retail, businesses will close down and the town will be left with empty buildings, creating an even bigger problem for the community, government and police. 

Change needs to happen.