Traders tackle Mossman mayhem head on

Mossman Crime

Bryan Littlely

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Mossman cafe owner Sharon Beechey has led traders to tackle a vandalism crime wave head on. Picture: Bryan Littlely

Broken windows, abuse and a business at breaking point is what fuelled Beechwoods Cafe owner Sharon Beechey to champion the Mossman community to come together to tackle spiralling mayhem and vandalism after dark in Mossman.

Her pleas, and those of dozens of Mossman businesses in a battle against a rising tide of antisocial and destructive behavior, seem to have helped… for now.

Ms Beechey, who has twice in the past month had the street frontage windows of her Front Street cafe smashed in, says there has been a cooling of the trouble since the meeting on Monday, February 3.

“In four weeks I have had two windows smashed,’’ she said.

“Last Monday when I came to work my whole window was pushed in on the floor so my whole shop was open to whoever wanted to come in at 3.45am.

“I’m not the only one. The whole street has been going through smashed windows and multiple at a time… the night that mine was done last week there were three other windows of shops smashed.

“They were smashed in here when we were working three weeks ago. It was crisis point.’’

Ms Beechey said dysfunctional behaviour and public drunkenness had risen to be out of control in the town over the past six months.

“The younger ones are getting involved now so as a community we have got to band together and try to stop it and give them some avenues,’’ she said.

“First step is cleaning the streets up and getting some police patrols because we have had no police presence from that 2am time onwards… it was just a free for all.

“Now we have the ear of the police… since that meeting.’’

More than 90 people attended the meeting and that number is expected to be met at another town meeting planned before the end of February where Aboriginal Elders, business and council leaders and concerned members of the community are anticipated to attend.

“The Elders are listening, they are just as frustrated as we are,’’ Ms Beechey said.

State Cook MP David Kempton attended the meeting which included Mossman shop owners, Mayor Lisa Scomazzon, all the councillors and Elders.

Mr Kempton said it was made clear the escalating trouble in Mossman was from a “small cohort” and on the rise due to a lack of police patrolling overnight after 10pm.

“People are worried and frightened… there is a lot of street crime,’’ Mr Kempton said.

The trouble stems from “alcohol-fuelled” people living on the streets.

"Police say they have adequate numbers,’’ Mr Kempton said, adding that he would like to see a couple more supporting officers.

"We need more resourcing."

Mr Kempton has given an undertaking to talk to the "hierarchy" - including the Assistant Police Commissioner, Police Minister and judges regarding the need for stronger sentences.

One Douglas Shire businessman said he had witnessed smashed bottles, broken windows, people urinating, discarded syringes and dirty clothes lying on the ground.

He added that he had swept the street several times but "within a day it's back’’.

 

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