Coronavirus: Ex-police officer, now Northern Beaches Councillor, Pat Daley predicts crime rates to soar

A former police officer turned Sydney councillor has urged people to look out for each other as he predicts crime to rise as job losses increase due to coronavirus.

Former police officer, and now a councillor on Northern Beaches Council, Pat Daley, is predicting an increase in crime as more people lose their jobs due to the COVID-19. Picture: Christian Gilles

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Crime on the northern beaches is set to surge as more people lose their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis, a former police officer has predicted.

Pat Daley, co-founder of the popular 1980s Neighbourhood Watch scheme and now a member of Northern Beaches Council, predicted crime rates would increase in coming months.

Cr Daley said more crimes will be committed despite the government’s best efforts to provide financial assistance to the new unemployed.

Northern Beaches Councillor Pat Daley predicts a rise in crime as more people lose their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. Picture: Adam Yip

But the Liberal councillor’s predictions came as NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said on the weekend that crime was down across the state compared with this time last year.

“The streets are safe and people are generally behaving themselves,” Commissioner Fuller said.

“So I would ask that we continue to be calm. Calm on the streets and calm at home.”

Cr Daley said on Monday that over recent days he had received a number of calls from residents seeking advice about security and safety issues.”

“The crime rate will go up as people lose their jobs. It always happens, we’ve seen it in the past.”

Former Police officer Pat Daley, was a co-founder of Neighbourhood Watch. Picture: News Corp

Cr Daley urged residents to revisit the basic principles of Neighbourhood Watch and keep a lookout for suspicious activity in their street.

“It’s all about being proactive and being aware of what is going on around you.”

He also suggested that the principles of Neighbourhood Network scheme, where people watch out for the welfare of seniors in their street, should be revived.

“As a community, we need to work together and help each other stay safe and protect our

property.

“We can’t leave it all to the police. We should be aware of the basic principles of community policing.”

Cr Pat Daley urges residents to do their bit to help the police by keeping an eye out for suspicious activity in their street. Picture: Supplied

Pat Daley’s crime prevention tips, which he said would help keep people safe

in the coming months.

1. Exchange phone numbers with your neighbours and let them know if you see any suspicious activity around their house and, if need be, call the police.

2 Always remember that break and enters can occur at night when you are asleep. Always lock your doors and windows when going to bed.

3. If going out for exercise or to buy food — even for a short time — make sure you always lock your doors and windows and if you have an alarm system, activate it.

4. Practice Neighbour Network by keeping in touch with elderly family members, friends

and neighbours. Seniors need to be particularly careful. Don’t let anybody into your

home who is offering assistance if you don’t know them. Keep in regular communication

with family and trusted friends and neighbours.

5. Do not let younger children go outside alone. Advise children that they should not speak

to or go anywhere with somebody they don’t know. Make sure your children follow

Stranger Danger practices.

6. Make sure your parked car always locked. Try not to park your car in isolated or poorly lit areas. Don’t leave valuables on view in your vehicle.

Further information can be found in The Neighbourhood Crime Prevention

Handbook, available on www.patdaley.com.au