Glenorchy crime crackdown: Police and Mayor Sue Hickey put offenders on notice

A crackdown on Glenorchy crime has been launched and the city’s mayor, Sue Hickey, says offenders have been put on notice. SEE THE VIDEO >>

Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey has unveiled a strategy to tackle anti-social and criminal behaviour to turn the city around and she warns offenders are “are on notice”.

It comes after several arrests in a major police operation on Thursday.

Ms Hickey commended Tasmania Police’s Operation Saturate saying their efforts, including using the police dog handling unit, “sends a strong message to people that bad behaviour will not be tolerated in our community”.

“People should rightly be able to be and feel safe when they are using our public spaces, and if you are threatening that, you are on notice,” she said.

“We want to be a welcoming city – a city where people and their families can move around without having to worry about their safety or having to avoid certain areas because they feel threatened or intimidated.

A still from CCTV footage of an alleged offender at Cignall Moonah & Lotto & Newsagency. Picture: supplied

“I know many people want to help turnaround Glenorchy to be a place we can all be proud of, and I look forward to assisting the efforts of Tasmania Police with long term strategies designed to stamp out these issues.”

Ms Hickey said the council had begun a multi-pronged strategy designed to engage businesses, the community and government agencies to help deliver solutions.

She will meet Premier Jeremy Rockliff soon to discuss the strategy and “start working towards solutions”.

A still from CCTV showing a youth being detained by Tasmania Police at Cignall Moonah & Lotto & Newsagency. Picture: supplied

“We want to help our businesses who often bear the brunt of anti-social behaviour in our community and help them open their doors without their business, staff, or customers being or feeling threatened,” Ms Hickey said.

“We will continue working with Tasmania Police and supporting their staff stationed in Glenorchy wherever we can, but we also recognise work needs to be done to stop these issues before they start.”

Police Operation Saturate at Glenorchy with Mayor Sue Hickey and Inspector Jason Klug.

Ms Hickey said the council will hold a business forum on August 28 to discuss some of the issues local businesses are facing and also provide businesses with practical advice around what their legal rights and obligations are when dealing with anti-social behaviour.

The forum will be followed by a public safety meeting on September 11 where people will be able to get information about what role they can play in helping prevent and deter anti-social behaviour, without placing themselves at risk.

Ms Hickey said council would then call a roundtable session inviting members of Glenorchy’s business community, community representatives and government agencies to meet and determine some concrete strategies for minimising anti-social behaviour in the CBD.

“As a council, we recognise we have a role to play in developing solutions for these issues – however, we aren’t funded to police, nor provide sufficient levels of engagement programs, and instead rely heavily on other agencies to conduct this work,” Ms Hickey said.

Acting Inspector Jason Klug of Glenorchy Police said police patrolled from 2-7pm on Thursday and “dealt with a number of people.”

Police Operation Saturate at Glenorchy with Mayor Sue Hickey and Inspector Jason Klug.

“The northern suburbs community would have seen a large police presence in the Glenorchy, Moonah and Claremont CBDs as police conducted a high visibility operation targeted at detecting and deterring anti-social behaviour,” he said.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in our public spaces, at work, and at home.

In the operation, four people were arrested, two were issued with summonses, one infringement notice and two youth diversions were issued, seven people were issued a formal direction to leave the area, 12 drug detections were made and three cautions were issued for alcohol offences.

Crime problem ‘getting worse’, says shopkeeper

A Moonah newsagent says youth crime is “getting worse” as CCTV footage in his shop shows a male smashing and kicking a glass cabinet.

The video footage shows two construction workers wrestling the male to the floor and restraining him before two police officers arrived about midday on Wednesday.

Alan Yu said the latest incident at his newsagency, which followed teenagers using a makeshift flamethrower in June, showed the problem was continuing.

He welcomed a greater police presence on Thursday but said: “We need a long-term solution – one day is not enough.”

After the window was smashed he wrote to Glenorchy mayor Sue Hickey saying staff had also been threatened with being stabbed.

Youths harassing shopkeepers in Moonah with a makeshift flamethrower. Image: CCTV

Mr Yu said staff had been regularly abused and threatened.

“These recurring attacks are deeply concerning and indicate a disturbing trend of escalating violence among local youth,” he wrote.

“This not only endangers my staff and customers but also threatens the overall safety and wellbeing of our community.

“It is imperative that we address this issue promptly and effectively.’

Mr Yu urged council to act on community safety.

He suggested measures including an increased police presence “especially during peak hours, to deter violent behaviour and provide a sense of security”.

Mr Yu also called for youth engagement programs for at-risk youth and enhanced CCTV and surveillance in “hotspots to monitor and deter criminal activities” and educating residents to report suspicious behaviour.

“The safety of our community is paramount, and we must work together to create a secure environment for everyone,” he wrote.