New policing model for Baldivis

Kwinana police and Baldivis community leaders are in sync about the future of policing in the growing suburb after a meeting was held to discuss key issues.

Kwinana Senior Sergeant Glen Willers said Kwinana police would take responsibility for the suburb from Rockingham police next month when a new metropolitan police operating model is rolled out in the area.

The new model will include the South Metro and Peel districts merging to form the new South Metro District and focus on three types of activity - response teams, local policing teams and investigations.

Sen. Sgt Willers said there would be three teams across Kwinana and one team in Baldivis each with a sergeant and five constables.

Sen. Sgt Willers said he and officers which would be part of the Baldivis team met with community leaders last month.

He said the main issues raised in Baldivis were no different to anywhere else, circulating around concerns for police presence, hoons, burglaries and drugs.

"We aim to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour, and increase the public's satisfaction in police services," Sen. Sgt Willers said.

"We will go away now and develop a community plan so we can get our message out there."

He said the teams would also communicate with the community through Facebook and Twitter.

Baldivis ward councillor Matthew Whitfield said he was optimistic a dedicated policing team would decrease crime.

"The main benefit to Baldivis through this new model is that the Baldivis community officers will get to know the trouble areas, persons of interest and have the time to stop the crime at its source," he said.

"The number of burglaries, and many other crimes, should start to decrease purely due to the fact there will be more police patrols and more visibility."

Councillor Richard Smith said he welcomed the new model.

"Seeing will be believing, but I give full credit to the police and Sen. Sgt Willers in particular for wholeheartedly taking it on," he said.

"I'll give him all the support I can. The recognition of Baldivis growing was important."

Kwinana Local Policing Teams *

Team 1 *Baldivis

Team 2 *Bertram, Leda, Wellard

Team 3 * Parmelia and Orelia

Team 4 * Medina, Mandogolup, Calista, Kwinana Town Centre, Naval Base and Hope Valley