Community safety and surveillance

Know the right number to call for help in the City. It can save time and ensure you receive the right help quickly.

Who Should I call?

• Reporting numbers for businesses
• Reporting numbers for residents
   

The City of Perth CCTV surveillance system was first installed in July 1991 to create a safer environment for businesses and members of the public. As part of the SafeCity Strategy, it is one of several initiatives designed to assist in preventing crimes against the person in Perth city.

The City of Perth CCTV surveillance system aims to:

• Reduce crime levels by deterring potential offenders.
• Ensure higher levels of community safety.
• Shorten response times to emergency situations.
• Assist in the detection and prosecution of offenders.
• Help secure a safer environment for the people who live or work in, and visit the city.
• Monitor city assets and local government property.

The Citywatch Surveillance Centre works closely with WA Police to help ensure a fast and effective response to emergency situations and to assist in the detection and prosecution of offenders. Citywatch operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It monitors over 600 cameras across the city centre, Northbridge, East Perth and key public space.

For emergencies call 000.

For police attendance call 131 444.

If you require assistance for safety issues or antisocial behaviour contact Citywatch Surveillance Centre on (08) 9461 6611.

General queries should be directed to the City of Perth between 8 am and 5pm Monday to Friday on (08) 9461 3333.

There are currently over 600 cameras in the system which is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, footage is held on the hard drive for 30 days.

The CCTV system operates under strict guidelines of the Code of Practice, containing a confidentially clause, operational information, principles and standards which are adhered to by all Surveillance Officers operating the system.

To request a search for CCTV footage please review and accept the terms and conditions below.

Terms and conditions

Footage is only held on hard drive for 30 days.

Once the form is completed and payment received, the request will be forwarded to an operator to action. The request will be actioned within 7 working days after the form is submitted.

A fee of $175.00 will apply for the search of footage. If footage is located it will be downloaded to disc and you will be advised by email of the date/time and location for collection of the footage. If no footage is located there will be no reimbursement of the search fee.

By requesting a copy of the surveillance records from the City of Perth, it is acknowledged you accept full responsibility for this working copy while it is in your possession. You agree that you or any other persons are not at liberty to make, release or distribute copies of the footage, unless authorised or required by law. This surveillance record is not to be released to the media under any circumstances unless authorised by the CEO of the City of Perth. All footage has a reference number which is recorded against the applicant. Legal action may be taken if footage is released without authorisation.

Disclaimer

Footage will only be released to:

• Lawyers/solicitors for the purpose of legal defense of their client.
• Members of the public defending themselves in court. You will be required to supply the following documentation:
  
  
  • All paperwork relating to the charge.
    
    
  • A signed Statuary Declaration stating you will be defending yourself in court.
    
    
  • Proof of ID with current photo.
    
    
• Other interested parties as authorised by the Manager Community Amenity and Safety

Surveillance centre staff will not provide feedback prior to the completion of the request form and payment has been received. The fee of $175 will be charged regardless of the outcome of any search.

Search Request form

Please agree to the above terms to access the CCTV Search Request form.

I accept the terms and conditions

"The applicant acknowledges that a camera being in a particular area is not a guarantee of the desired footage being obtained. The applicant acknowledges that despite a camera being in a desired area, it may be facing alternative directions or, may have been monitoring another incident occurring in that vicinity".

Cam-Map WA

Cam-Map WA is a comprehensive database of all voluntarily registered public facing CCTV systems across Western Australia.

This publicly accessed platform allows owners and operators of CCTV systems to self-register onto a secure database operated by the Western Australia Police Force.

Accurate knowledge of the locations of CCTV systems will assist WA Police to investigate incidents more quickly, help with the collection of evidence and respond more effectively to emergencies as they arise.

Cam-Map WA encourages the active participation of State Government agencies, local governments, and the community to register and contribute towards the creation of safer environments.

Find out more and register your CCTV details here.

The SafeCity Plan 2021-2025 sets the framework for the City of Perth’s services around community safety. A summary of the SafeCity Plan 2021 - 2025 is downloadable from here. With a goal as bold as: residents, workers and visitors identify Perth as a safe city, this plan needs to show it’s ready to achieve that. The five targeted focal areas and objectives show that we are gearing toward making the goal a reality.

1. Safe Places
   We want to build and facilitate a city which is safe 24 hours a day. One where it people feel they can participate in work, leisure, education and travel activities at any time.
2. Seeing and Responding
   We aspire to have a city community that is engaged with its spaces and responds appropriately if safety and crime issues are observed.
3. Engaged Community
   With the engagement and participation of the community, we seek to understand the social and environmental causes of antisocial behaviour to develop effective and community wide responses.
4. Healthy Headspace
   Whilst some people will experience issues with substance abuse and mental health issues, we seek a city that minimises the negative safety issues and harm that can occur to them, the people around them and the environment they are in.
5. Prepared Community
   We aim to have a community that minimises risk and is resilient, ready to respond and recover should emergencies occur.

The City has many initiatives to address community safety and minimise crime, graffiti and antisocial behaviour as well as improving perceptions of safety. We work closely with local police to prevent crime and respond to issues when they occur. To stay in touch with your local police try the WAPOL Facebook site.

WA Police and Neighbourhood Watch both have a wide range of resources to assist the community in preventing crime, including printed materials on personal safety and property security.

If you have information relating to suspected criminal activity you can report this anonymously on line or by phone. For more information phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or go to Crime Stoppers WA.

Graffiti vandalism is a crime, unsightly and makes people feel unsafe. You can report graffiti online via the Goodbye Graffiti website. This website is an online information service to assist the community with graffiti management and reduction strategies within Western Australia.

If you see anyone committing any act of graffiti vandalism, report it directly to WA Police by calling 131 444.

More than 9,000 bikes are reported stolen in WA each year. It’s important to lock your bike with a D-Lock. Bikelinc connects you, your bike, the WA Police Force and the cycling community to reduce the chances of bike theft happening to you. Set up a free profile at www.bikelinc.com.au

Everyone has a right to feel and be safe. Safety is everyone's responsibility and there are many things that you can do to increase your own safety, whether you are at home or out in the community.

If you do require help for yourself or another person in an emergency, knowing who to call and providing details of your location is important to save time and receive help quickly. Carrying a mobile phone and installing the Emergency+ app can help you do this.

WA Police also have many resources to help you to stay safe.

Perth has a very safe public transport system to transport you into and out of the city. For more information on a safe journey on buses, trains and ferries please visit the Transperth website.

The safety and security of passengers and staff is a key priority for Transperth. Visit their website to view a video on how they are keeping you safe and for tips on how you can take an active role in your own safety.

If you don't feel safe walking at night, take free public transport in the central city, West Perth, Northbridge and East Perth. This includes the CAT buses or any Transperth bus or train in the Free Transit Zone. Find out more and view the Transperth Transit Zones map map.

The City of Perth Creating Safer Spaces: Design guidelines to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour  has been developed to give designers, residents, businesses and event planners the tools to create a safe built environment. It provides background information, illustrated examples, checklists and further resources and was supported by the Western Australian Police Force.

Creating Safer Spaces guidelines use Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED (pronounced 'sep-ted'), methods to optimise safety in public spaces. CPTED is a multi-disciplinary approach proven to help enhance public safety and minimise opportunities for criminal and antisocial behaviour. While CPTED is ideally incorporated into the design stage of development, its methods can be applied to existing developments and areas at any stage of the building cycle. It applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as events. When implemented correctly, CPTED is an effective way to empower individuals and businesses to enhance and optimise safety in public spaces.

Download your copy, become familiar with the simple to understand guidelines and conduct the included checklist assessment of your space.