Plan aims to combat crime

A draft community safety plan partly shaped by the public has been officially adopted by the Shire of Broome after months of public consultations.

The document has been produced with the Community Safety Working Group and is aimed at tackling crime and antisocial behaviour and as a main reference for grant applications.

Numerous agencies and organisations have contributed to the plan including police, traditional owners the Yawuru, Broome Visitor Centre, Department of Justice and indigenous transport service the Kullarri Patrol.

The draft plan was modified by council officers after concerns were raised by the public.

Among them was a need to foster relationships with remote communities surrounding Broome to better address problems associated with rough sleeping and the town’s itinerant population.

A member of Broome Liquor Accord will be invited to sit on the Community Safety Working Group after calls for improved collaboration with the accord.

A representative from the local taxi industry will also be asked to sit on the group after concerns were raised about cab services being used to purchase alcohol from drive through bottle shops.

Community Safety Working Group chairwoman Mala Fairborn said the safety plan tackled issues such as inadequate street lighting in problem areas and laneway closures.

She said the main focus was to help reduce the two biggest headaches flagged during public consultations.

“This was born from public surveys where people listed crime and antisocial behaviour as their biggest concerns,” she said.

“They kept coming back as the big-ticket items that need to be addressed and the report aims to address some of those points.”

Ms Fairborn said the document would also be used as a foundation to apply for funding grants.

“There are a number of different grants we are looking at that suit different aspects of the planned implementation,” she said.

The Shire has allocated $30,000 in the 2016-17 budget towards implementing the plan.

A further $25,000 will be sought through grant funding.

Council officers said actions would be introduced over a period of time and would be dependent on resources and budget.

The plan has been developed by the Community Safety Working Group, which was established in October last year.

Shire president Ron Johnston said the document should not be treated as just “another bit of bureaucratic paperwork”.

“This underlines the importance of community safety from the eyes of people living in our own community,” he said.

“We have listened and acted and have come up with a plan to combat issues plaguing our community.”