Crime and anti-social behavior in the Tamworth community is a significant issue that has a direct impact on local and member businesses. This ongoing problem highlights the need for us to advocate on behalf of our members for a safer community.
Over the coming weeks, I will be meeting with community leaders to discuss the issues that businesses in Tamworth are facing. I am eager to hear from members about their experiences and the impacts these issues have had on their businesses. Your insights are essential in shaping our advocacy efforts and ensuring that we address the real concerns of our community.
Anti-social behavior can severely affect the business environment. Here at Centrepoint, we put a lot of effort into creating a safe place so that our tenants can trade and prosper. Recently, Centrepoint has been a victim of senseless vandalism that will cost our business just under $100,000 to repair. This damage was caused by three teenagers who will unlikely receive punishment equivalent to the impact their crime has had.
It is disheartening after working so hard to build a business, to then deal with senseless acts of vandalism and anti-social behavior that cause major interruptions and damage to property.
A growing concern in our community is the carrying of edged weapons, particularly among teenagers. I’m sure you can appreciate that for a shopping Centre, this is an issue we are particularly concerned about. There have been increasing reports of teens carrying knives, which poses a significant threat to public safety. This alarming trend necessitates immediate action and stricter preventive measures.
In a step towards enhancing community safety, the NSW Government passed legislation giving police greater powers to conduct random checks without a warrant for edged weapons using a metal-detecting wand.
However, the effectiveness of this law is limited, as it only allows checks where a relevant offense has already occurred and restricted to a designated area. This means that an offense involving an edged weapon must have taken place first, which is not ideal for preventing such incidents.
NSW Government passes law introducing police ‘wanding’ search powers
We need a collective effort to make Tamworth a safer place for everyone. Your input and experiences are invaluable in our advocacy efforts. Together, we can push for more effective measures to ensure a secure and thriving business environment in our community.
Let us know how this is impacting you, or share your thoughts with us by emailing Martin at treasurer@tamworth.org.au
Written by: Martin Howes
Centrepoint Tamworth Centre Manager
Tamworth Business Chamber Treasurer
