City ramps up response to Scarborough incidents

In response to recent incidents in Scarborough, the City of Stirling will ramp up monitoring of CCTV and increase collaborative efforts with WA Police Force from this weekend.

Following antisocial behaviour in the entertainment district, the City will be actively monitoring its extensive CCTV network on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 22 January.

While the City provides WA Police Force access to CCTV footage retrospectively to assist with investigations and arrests, active monitoring will enable the City to inform police of incidents as they occur.

Mayor Mark Irwin said the City’s priority and focus was to maintain community safety to ensure Scarborough is a family friendly entertainment district.  

“We already have 73 cameras in our CCTV network at Scarborough as well as two mobile CCTV units. These aim to reduce crime by deterring potential offenders, shortening response times to emergency situations and helping with detection and prosecution of offenders,” Mayor Irwin said.

“As part of our response, we’re fast-tracking the installation of an additional 10 CCTV cameras at key locations in Scarborough and we’ll be doubling staffing for our contracted security patrols and officers monitoring our camera network on weekends.

“The City has a strong relationship with WA Police Force and we’re dedicated to working with them on this issue.”

The role of the City of Stirling is to increase community safety within the public realm, however, it is important to distinguish between licensed venues and public areas. The City has no role to play regarding antisocial behaviour and violence within licensed venues.

Actions being undertaken by the City to uphold community safety in the public realm include:

• Aadditional Security Officers during the summer period dedicated to Scarborough
• Regular patrols by other City Security Officers and Rangers
• Regular dialogue between the WA Police District Superintendent and the City’s Director Community Development to identify issues and responses.

A meeting of the Scarborough Liquor Accord is being convened net week to identify what actions are necessary by licensed venues, with party buses a key item for discussion.