LONG-TIME Bassendean resident Manuel Sammut says he is frustrated by the growing prevalence of crime along Old Perth Road and is calling for safer streets.

Mr Sammut made a deputation, through his son Michael Sammut, to the Town of Bassendean council during the ordinary meeting, asking for installation of CCTV cameras, improved street lighting and collaborating with state government for infrastructural upgrades.

The petition requests the installation of fixed security cameras along the stretch of Old Perth Road between Guildford Road and the West Road roundabout due to ongoing issues with antisocial behaviour.

“(These include) vandalism, loitering, aggressive behaviour, and damage to property,” the petition stated.

“These incidents have negatively impacted the safety, wellbeing, and confidence of local residents, business owners, staff, and customers.

“The absence of adequate surveillance has made it increasingly difficult to deter such behaviour or assist authorities in identifying and responding to incidents when they occur.

“The installation of visible security cameras would act as a strong deterrent, improve public safety, support local law enforcement, and help restore confidence in this important commercial and community precinct.”

The petition asks the Town of Bassendean to investigate the feasibility of security cameras along the specified stretch of Old Perth Road, consult with business and stakeholders in the area about best camera placement, and prioritise the project.

There were 34 businesses who signed the petiton as of March 16.

Mr Sammut said he felt something had to be done to keep the area he’s called home for many years safe.

“I’ve always been in Bassendean and it’s my old stomping grounds and I’d hate to see its character destroyed,” he said.

“Mum used to buy clothes from the jumble shops, and I’ve known the area my whole life.

“A lot of people are losing hope and just living with the crime rate but I thought to myself, ‘I have to do something about it’,”

The Town of Bassendean director of community and place Michelle Brennand spoke to the item, as the writer of the report, and recommended the petition be rejected but concerns raised be implemented in their item.

The petition was rejected on grounds that it did not meet the town’s petition criteria; however, this did not mean the petition failed to inform council action.

Ms Brennand’s report called on council to acknowledge the petition and treat it as correspondence worthy of consideration and to accept the report as another path to address the matters raised in the petition.

It proposed a development of a CCTV strategy that would be subject to approval in the development of the 2026/27 budget.

The locations of the CCTV cameras will be determined by the strategy which will be developed over the coming months.

Mr Sammut said he wanted the Town of Bassendean to understand that his request was for the cameras to be for the surveillance of the public thoroughfare on Old Perth Road for the safety of the public.

“The businesses have their own cameras to look after us and so what we’re asking is for cameras along the street pointed to the public areas,” he said.

“What we need now are cameras that can deter antisocial and criminal behaviour on Old Perth Road for the community.

“That’s the important part and I want to be very clear, because workers on this road right now are scared for their safety and we need something done.”

The report estimated the CCTV rebate scheme would cost the town about $30,000 to upgrade existing infrastructure and add additional infrastructure.

Mr Sammut was concerned by the time frame suggested by the report and said waiting until the plan could be enacted through the 2026/2027 budget was too late.

During the March 24 meeting, Ms Brennand amended her report to reflect that the 2026/2027 budget time constraint was now removed with the caveat that the town still  needed to be in a position to implement their commercial CCTV rebate.

However, the criteria for the CCTV rebate scheme and the related policy are yet to be developed and will be bought back to council for consideration and decision once ready.

In the event the council was in a position to action the rebate, the CCTV installations wouldn’t be immediate as a framework, principles and eligibility criteria still needed to be built by the Town of Bassendean, meaning there is still no definite timeline on a solution yet.

“I want to make sure we get this right,” Mr Sammut said.

“The cameras have to be for the community – we’re not asking for them to be pointed at the businesses, but for people walking on the street to feel and be safer.”