New strategy to combat northern suburbs' violence

• Strategy aims to prevent and reduce harm and community violence
• Addressing the impact of alcohol a priority

A comprehensive new strategy will aim to prevent and reduce the level of community violence and antisocial behaviour in Perth's northern suburbs.

Police Minister Rob Johnson today launched 'Towards a Future without Violence - a Community Violence Prevention Strategy for the North Metropolitan Area.'

Mr Johnson said State Government and non-government organisations would work together to implement the initiative, with a focus on early childhood intervention; improving access to services; and reducing the impact of alcohol.

The Minister said rapid population growth was the biggest issue in the north-west metropolitan police district, with additional funding being provided for extra police across the district to meet the increased demand.

"Violence is becoming an increasing issue for young people, with the highest proportion of victims in the 25-34 age group," he said.

"The consumption of alcohol, especially at high levels, is a significant risk factor for violence.

"Unfortunately, there's a well established drinking culture in Australia of 'drinking to get drunk', and alcohol intoxication is a causing factor in as much as 73 per cent of all violent incidents.

"The strategy aims to reduce the impact of alcohol in the community by encouraging young people to take up sport and other activities.

"Police have also introduced a range of initiatives such as targeted patrols in the areas of Joondalup most plagued by assaults, street robberies and antisocial behaviour.

"The strategy also recommends that entertainment precincts have more effective controls of alcohol access and consumption. To that end, police will continue to work closely with licensed venues in the area to reduce alcohol-fuelled crime."

Mr Johnson said WA Police and the cities of Wanneroo and Joondalup had recently inspected the Public Transport Authority and Perth City Council CCTV operations rooms, with a view to establishing a North West Metro District CCTV operations room located in the Joondalup CBD.

"It is hoped antisocial behaviour will be reduced by monitoring hot spots and entertainment precincts to decrease alcohol-fuelled violence and minimise assaults," he said.

WA Police would also focus on reducing domestic violence, with the north-west police district recently increasing staff numbers from four to nine at the Family Protection Unit.

Police are also looking at assigning several detectives to the unit to conduct investigations into serious domestic violence to improve responsiveness and capability of the investigators.

      Fact File

• Injury Control Council of WA (ICCWA) and North Metropolitan Area Health Unit, in partnership with Government and non-government agencies, have developed the Community Violence Prevention Strategy
• Dept of Health and North Metropolitan Public Health Service funded the project
• Reference group established by ICCWA to oversee implementation of strategy, comprising 18 non-government and Government agencies, including the departments of Health, Education, Child Protection, Communities, Corrective Services, Housing, the Attorney General and WA Police

Minister's office - 6552 5900