Hunt for playground axeman as families fear for kids' safety
Families in Perth's south are fearing for the safety of their children with axes and knives being thrown at targets carved into trees, just metres from a playground where used syringes have also been found lying on the grass.
People living opposite Dubove Park in Spearwood told PerthNow 'there's no visible end in sight' to the antisocial behaviour in their once safe and welcoming neighbourhood.
'Good honest hard-working people live in this community; they don't deserve to have to tidy up axes, knives, shopping trolleys, rubbish and alcohol containers,' a long-term resident who asked to remain anonymous said.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.
'People are often observed clearly impaired, drinking, acting aggressively and throwing axes and knives in the park at trees. The City of Cockburn told PerthNow it would deploy a mobile CCTV trailer at Dubove Park to catch the axe thrower in action. Credit: Bohemia Street residents
'I went to use the playground with my children only to find a person who was very out of it on the park bench next to the playground after injecting with a syringe in the middle of the day. The syringe was on the ground below them.
'Finding used syringes uncapped in the park is a common occurrence.
'I'm deeply concerned that it's only a matter of time before a child will step on one.'
The City of Cockburn told PerthNow it would deploy a mobile CCTV trailer at Dubove Park to catch the axe thrower in action.
'We have received public reports, including photographs showing damage to trees,' mayor Logan Howlett said.
'Damaging city trees breaches the city's local laws.
'Based on the photographs received, the incident may also amount to criminal damage under the Criminal Code.' A syringe seen on the floor. Credit: Supplied by residents
Police confirmed two reports of people throwing items at a park on Dubove Road were made in January, but the offender was gone when officers arrived.
The Spearwood local told PerthNow there had been more incidents, but continuing to file reports to either the council or police was frustrating as there was no action taken.
'It's extremely disheartening and leaves me feeling helpless, especially when previous reports have gone unaddressed,' they said.
'Basically, it goes around in circles ... each team saying the other is responsible for looking after it.'
They said Dubove Park was a 'safe and 'welcoming' place before a social housing complex was built nearby.
'Elderly residents who regularly gathered at the park in the evenings have since stopped due to safety concerns,' they said.
'It used to have a family and united community feel, but this has been taken away. Many residents are afraid ... there's no visible end in sight.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
15 hours ago
- Perth Now
Hunt for playground axeman as families fear for kids' safety
Families in Perth's south are fearing for the safety of their children with axes and knives being thrown at targets carved into trees, just metres from a playground where used syringes have also been found lying on the grass. People living opposite Dubove Park in Spearwood told PerthNow 'there's no visible end in sight' to the antisocial behaviour in their once safe and welcoming neighbourhood. 'Good honest hard-working people live in this community; they don't deserve to have to tidy up axes, knives, shopping trolleys, rubbish and alcohol containers,' a long-term resident who asked to remain anonymous said. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'People are often observed clearly impaired, drinking, acting aggressively and throwing axes and knives in the park at trees. The City of Cockburn told PerthNow it would deploy a mobile CCTV trailer at Dubove Park to catch the axe thrower in action. Credit: Bohemia Street residents 'I went to use the playground with my children only to find a person who was very out of it on the park bench next to the playground after injecting with a syringe in the middle of the day. The syringe was on the ground below them. 'Finding used syringes uncapped in the park is a common occurrence. 'I'm deeply concerned that it's only a matter of time before a child will step on one.' The City of Cockburn told PerthNow it would deploy a mobile CCTV trailer at Dubove Park to catch the axe thrower in action. 'We have received public reports, including photographs showing damage to trees,' mayor Logan Howlett said. 'Damaging city trees breaches the city's local laws. 'Based on the photographs received, the incident may also amount to criminal damage under the Criminal Code.' A syringe seen on the floor. Credit: Supplied by residents Police confirmed two reports of people throwing items at a park on Dubove Road were made in January, but the offender was gone when officers arrived. The Spearwood local told PerthNow there had been more incidents, but continuing to file reports to either the council or police was frustrating as there was no action taken. 'It's extremely disheartening and leaves me feeling helpless, especially when previous reports have gone unaddressed,' they said. 'Basically, it goes around in circles ... each team saying the other is responsible for looking after it.' They said Dubove Park was a 'safe and 'welcoming' place before a social housing complex was built nearby. 'Elderly residents who regularly gathered at the park in the evenings have since stopped due to safety concerns,' they said. 'It used to have a family and united community feel, but this has been taken away. Many residents are afraid ... there's no visible end in sight.'
West Australian
15 hours ago
- West Australian
Retailers are copping assault almost daily despite new laws to deter violence against staff
Police have charged a person almost once a day with assaulting a retail worker since new laws were introduced last year, sparking calls for a dedicated unit for addressing the crime. Data revealed under Parliamentary questioning showed since new penalties came into effect on July 1 that police have charged 329 West Australians with assaulting a shop worker — nearly one per day. Under the laws, shoppers who assault staff face up to seven years in jail, while fines were doubled to as high as $36,000 after the workers were singled out for stronger protection under a new provision in the Criminal Code. As well as hitting, throwing objects and spitting at a worker are covered by the tougher laws. Australian Retailers Association chief executive Chris Rodwell said the increased penalties would help in the battle against retail crime but called for dedicated officers to focus on the industry, like what occurs in South Australia. 'While there is an uplift in the number of reported incidents, some of this is attributable to better outcomes in apprehending and penalising offenders,' he said. 'Despite the improvements, retail crime is still a significant issue, with considerable economic and social cost. 'In the past year, crime reporting suggested incidents of retail crime have risen to 800,000 nationally, with almost one in 10 retail crime events being violent. It comes at a cost of around $9 billion annually. Retailers and their workers deserve better. 'The retail sector would also strongly support a dedicated retail crime unit within WA Police to help strengthen the impact of the existing penalties and help drive faster reductions in incident rates.' SDA WA secretary Ben Harris said the scale of the people charged was a sad reason the laws were necessary, with workers previously reporting rates of violence and abuse had climbed since the pandemic. A 2023 survey by the union of its members revealed 87 per cent said they had experienced abuse from customers in the past 12 months. Reports of physical violence rose by 56 per cent when compared with the results of a 2021 survey. 'That sort of bad behaviour and rudeness from customers has moved into this abusive and violence kind of space, which is causing significant harm to our members,' Mr Harris said. 'It's good to see that they these laws are being utilised, and people are putting in complaints, and the police are taking seriously these matters, and that the people being charged. 'As the judiciary deals with these matters, the consequences of this behaviour and the the approach taken by our courts will actually be the next step in sending that message. 'We constantly encourage our members to not let anything go and don't do not accept this behaviour. Don't accept that this is just part of being in retail.'
West Australian
15 hours ago
- West Australian
Spearwood residents fear for safety as axes and knives thrown at Dubove Park trees, metres from playground
Families in Perth's south are fearing for the safety of their children with axes and knives being thrown at targets carved into trees, just metres from a playground where used syringes have also been found lying on the grass. People living opposite Dubove Park in Spearwood told PerthNow 'there's no visible end in sight' to the antisocial behaviour in their once safe and welcoming neighbourhood. 'Good honest hard-working people live in this community; they don't deserve to have to tidy up axes, knives, shopping trolleys, rubbish and alcohol containers,' a long-term resident who asked to remain anonymous said. 'People are often observed clearly impaired, drinking, acting aggressively and throwing axes and knives in the park at trees. 'I went to use the playground with my children only to find a person who was very out of it on the park bench next to the playground after injecting with a syringe in the middle of the day. The syringe was on the ground below them. 'Finding used syringes uncapped in the park is a common occurrence. 'I'm deeply concerned that it's only a matter of time before a child will step on one.' The City of Cockburn told PerthNow it would deploy a mobile CCTV trailer at Dubove Park to catch the axe thrower in action. 'We have received public reports, including photographs showing damage to trees,' mayor Logan Howlett said. 'Damaging city trees breaches the city's local laws. 'Based on the photographs received, the incident may also amount to criminal damage under the Criminal Code.' Police confirmed two reports of people throwing items at a park on Dubove Road were made in January, but the offender was gone when officers arrived. The Spearwood local told PerthNow there had been more incidents, but continuing to file reports to either the council or police was frustrating as there was no action taken. 'It's extremely disheartening and leaves me feeling helpless, especially when previous reports have gone unaddressed,' they said. 'Basically, it goes around in circles ... each team saying the other is responsible for looking after it.' They said Dubove Park was a 'safe and 'welcoming' place before a social housing complex was built nearby. 'Elderly residents who regularly gathered at the park in the evenings have since stopped due to safety concerns,' they said. 'It used to have a family and united community feel, but this has been taken away. Many residents are afraid ... there's no visible end in sight.'
