Western Australia is now the violent crime capital of Australia, Cr David Goode told Gosnells council’s agenda forum last Tuesday night.
He said last Thursday he passed on an email from Neighbourhood Watch to every councillor at the City of Gosnells.
According to the councillor more than 40 people had attended the meeting in Maddington along with political staff from the offices of Matt Keogh and Chris Tallentire and a number of police.
“What was fascinating though was the data and numbers,” he said.
“Western Australia is now the violent crime capital of Australia with 22 violent crimes per 1000 people.
“Queensland had 15 per 1000 people.
“These figures staggered me especially the amount of violent crime in particular,” he said.
Councillor Goode said he was particularly alarmed at the increase in the increase in domestic violence statistics within people’s homes.
“Assaults, and this is in the last seven years, are up 42 per cent and WA has more people attacked in their homes than any other state,” he said.
“We have certainly been having a massive population growth, which obviously accounts for a significant increase in crime.
“The city is very much aware and we are grateful for what the police do for the Safe City Program and what we have done as a council to encourage people to have the cameras and to be alert.
“But the message was to record things, take notes of things, take your photographs, and report to police always.
“I want to make sure that message is out there big time.
“We are the eyes and ears of the police,” he said.
“We must report, we must know what is going on and to be alert because they concerned were genuinely frightened and scared in their homes at this particular place and they made everyone quite well aware of it.
“Hopefully some volunteers may step up for Neighbourhood Watch which would be great. We’ve had that for over 40 years in our city so it was a very good community meeting.”
If you are interested in joining Neighbourhood Watch, call (08) 9493 3311 or visit https://www.gosnellsnhw.com
