Our speaker for the evening was Sgt Dwayne Skehan from our local Police Station in Forrestfield. He introduced himself by outlining some of his achievements while in the Police Force ie completing a University degree and spending some time in the USA with Los Angeles Police Dept.
Sgt Skehan also mentioned his daughter went to Timor Leste two years ago as part of the Leavers Programme with the support of our Rotary Club. Apart from being at the chalk face of Policing he is also Community Liaison Officer working with students from Darling Range Sports College and Kalamunda SHS.
He mentioned that the Police work together with a number of Stakeholders : Local Community, St.John’s Ambulance, SES, Fire Brigade and Business to prevent and solve crime.
Crime in WA is on the increase just as population in the Metro area is increasing. Main areas of crime are Murders, Family Assaults and Meth sale and use. He then selected 4 suburbs within City of Kalamunda to show us some statistics for this year ending June 2019.
KALAMUNDA
21 Assaults within Family Violence
16 Non Family Assaults including Schools
1 Robbery ( when act of violence before, during or after the robbery occurs)
25 Burglaries 24 of which were Business premises
130 Stealing including bikes, goods etc
7 Violent Restraining Order breaches.
Robberies, Burglaries and Theft usually involve offenders from outside the Kalamunda Area.
HIGH WYCOMBE
29 Assaults within Family Violence
8 Non Family
1 Robbery
53 Burglaries
149 Stealing
FORRESTFIELD
This is the main crime area within the City of Kalamunda. It involves more violence and stealing and many repeat offenders known to the Police.
104 Assaults within Family Violence. There is a strong WA Police Strategy to lock up people when family violence occurs so gradually the statistics for this are going down.
12 Robbery
104 Burglaries
130 Stealing mainly with repeat offenders
152 Acts of Fraud using stolen credit cards.
MAIDA VALE
13 Assaults within Family Violence
3 Non Family Assaults
0 Robbery
30 Burgalries
55 Stealing mainly form Businesses
15 Acts of Fraud using stolen Credit Cards
CRIME PREVENTION
Basically Wayne reinforced all the information we receive from Media etc ie don’t leave valuables which can be seen in cars, never leave car keys in ignition, don’t walk away and leave the engine running, place security lights outside your home, install burglar alarms and keep a watchful eye on your neighbourhood and report anything suspicious.