Saturday, August 03, 2002

CABRAMATTA CRACKDOWN AFFECTING SURROUNDING SUBURBS

The recent active policing in Cabramatta may have led to a dispersion of crime to surrounding suburbs said Fairfield Councillor Thang Ngo.

A petition signed by 48 out of 49 shops at Bonnyrigg Plaza demanding 24-hour security was presented to Bonnyrigg Plaza Centre Management, last week.

Signatories on the petition included Betta Electricals, Tandy, Bonnyrigg Library, Department of Housing, Franklins, Woolworths, Commonwealth Bank, OPSM and Blockbuster Bonnyrigg.

According to the petition, in recent months there has been ongoing thefts, break-ins and bag snatches, during working hours as well as after hours.

Councillor Ngo, who has been asked to assist local Bonnyrigg shopkeepers said he wanted to impress on the Centre Management that the issue of security and safety of shop staff and shoppers should be top priority.

"I have written to Centre Management and called their office to insist that this matter be treated as a priority" said Cr Ngo.

Cr Ngo has also asked Fairfield Police local area Commander, Mr Geoff Cavanagh to look at deploying police patrols in the area to assure residents and act as a deterrent for would be criminals.

Cr Ngo said in the past few months he has been receiving more calls from residents in relation to increasing crime in suburbs around Cabramatta, including Bonnyrigg, Canley Vale, Canley Heights and Fairfield – all are within minutes from Cabramatta.

"It’s reasonable to suggest that we are seeing the ‘dispersion’ effect as a result of the visible policing activities in Cabramatta" he said.

"This has implications for police and the community and we must strategically address the issue of crime displacement" Cr Ngo concluded.