Geraldton retail forum stresses importance of accurate crime reporting between retailers and police

A Geraldton crime forum has revealed 14 assaults against retail workers have been reported since the start of the year, but because of under-reporting the actual figure could be much higher.

The need for accurate reporting featured prominently at Tuesday’s Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry and WA Police’s Community Engagement Retailers Forum. Police urged retailers to report all incidents to help with future resourcing.

The forum aimed to provide retailers tools to ensure they knew how to be crime aware and how to properly report incidents.

In total, 55 retailers from across Geraldton attended the Geraldton Multipurpose Centre to hear from police, and to discuss their own situations including alleged assaults occurring in the area.

Alongside them was Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr, Sandra Carr MLC who was representing Police Minister Reece Whitby on behalf of the State Government, and acting Geraldton police officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Mandy Johnson.

District engagement and support manager Sen. Sgt Russell Hurst discussed the crime situation in Geraldton and provided retailers with information.

In Geraldton, he said of the 14 assaults reported against retailers, none had resulted in an application for a violence restraining order.

Police discussed how retailers can better protect themselves from future instances, pointing to barring notices and either misconduct or restraining orders for repeat offenders.

Sen. Sgt Hurst said the orders were clear and held up in court, and had greater penalties for those who breached them.

“The benefits applying for a violence restraining order for them is that it gives them some protection,” he said.

“(It) protects them from coming into their store, protects them from going to places that they work, and ultimately, just gives them that peace of mind that if they do come back, they can call police.

“We want to make sure that businesses feel supported to employ their staff, to keep their staff there, to keep their staff happy and remove any risks to them.”

The forum was told the 14 incidents of assault were only the ones reported, and the true number could be much higher.

Other items discussed included the retailer’s role in reporting crime, police’s role in handling different situations, and the justice system.

Sen. Sgt Hurst said the message police wanted to get out to the community was for retailers to report incidents accurately to give officers a clear picture of what was happening in the area.

“We certainly want to provide the best service to our retailers, whilst reducing harm in the community and making sure that consumers feel safe to go out, and retailers feel safe going to work,” he said.

“Ultimately, we want to make it as hard as we can for these criminals that are hurting our community.”

Police at the meeting urged retailers to report every incident, so law enforcement could get a better idea on crime statistics, which could lead to more patrols down the track.

Mid West CCI chief executive Joanne Fabling said it was the role of the chamber to support its members and getting important messages like this across.

After making preparations for the forum for about a year, she urged as many local retailers to ensure they correctly reported any crime.

“We want as many on board as possible,” she said.

“That critical mass is really essential to getting in front of systemic crime that is happening.”