Citizens can stand up to anti-social behaviour

Community has role to help break cycle of offending, writes Brendan Blomeley

Published in The Mercury on Wednesday 8 March 2023 (see here).

Our community is making a stand against the offensive behaviour of a few which violates the peace and well-being of many.

The investment by the State Government to remain tough on crime has been efficient.

Recent funding from the State Government allowing for extra police officer presence in our city has been enormously effective.

I am proud of the recent gains we have made which have seen crime rates in Clarence reduced.

We do not want to see this progress dwindle off.

It is important that we continue to build on what we have achieved, and I believe the next step is empowering local members of our communities to take action and report crimes.

Antisocial behaviour is not unique to Clarence – Tasmania Police clamped 164 vehicles and confiscated 404 last year to help crack down on hooning - as was reported in the Sunday Tasmanian this week. ?

However, this is no excuse for any of us to sit back and allow a minority group of people to create disturbances, which results in making other people, particularly the more vulnerable, feel unsafe when they are in public spaces or their private homes.

In Clarence we are working collaboratively with Tasmania Police, and other organisations, to find meaningful solutions for our community.

This action, along with a rollout of concentrated police blitzes in the past few months, has gone a long way to addressing some of the antisocial behaviour in our key locations in the community, head-on.

These measures, while they have been successful, are just one part of the solution to what is a complex problem which will require a multi-pronged approach for lasting change.

What needs to be focused on now is encouraging individuals in our community to report all antisocial behaviour – particularly ‘hooning’.

People driving recklessly is a concern for pockets of our community – and many other municipalities.

I want everyone to feel empowered to stand against behaviour they know is wrong, and to be aware of how they can best report it.

It is unfair that a few egocentric individuals hooning on our streets, or spray-painting ugly graffiti on public and private property, or any antisocial behaviour, can bring down the reputation of whole neighbourhoods or townships.

It is not the sole responsibility of Tasmania Police to crack down on these sorts of disturbances.

People who care about their community must stop accepting antisocial behaviour they know is occurring.

By reporting crimes to authorities means they are aware of where and when issues are happening.

This information can then lead to the allocation of funds – for not only more police – but also for more intervention programs which can help engage and educate offenders.

Many offenders are often stuck in a cycle of bad behaviour – by reporting it others can actually help break those cycles.

As aptly put by Lt. General David Morrison “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”?

It is time for all of us to take responsibility for our communities and to take action.

If you are witnessing someone hooning or being unlawful as it happens, call 131 444 immediately.

Or if you wish to report hooning or dangerous driving even after it has happened, you still can, and you should!

Go to the Tasmania Police website and click on the Report Dangerous Driving link and enter the information there or call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

I am proud of our City and the State we live in.

I know most Tasmanians feel the same way – so I hope that people will be encouraged to make a stand to make this place better and safer for all.

Brendan Blomeley is the Mayor of Clarence City Council.