as posted here
Police have shut down yet another clandestine drug lab – this time in the southern suburb of Huntingdale.
Armed with a misuse of drugs search warrant, police raided a home on Redfox Crescent about 10am yesterday and allegedly discovered a crude laboratory where it appeared methamphetamine was being produced.
Officers from the Organised Crime Unit and WA Chemistry Centre experts were called out to the house to dismantle the equipment.
They found several items and chemical liquids commonly used to manufacture “ice” or “speed”.
Police arrested a 41-year-old woman on charges of attempting to manufacture a prohibited substance.
She will appear in the Armadale Magistrate’s Court today.
Nearly 80 clandestine drug labs have been discovered this year alone, a huge jump from the 28 busts last year.
Police have previously blamed the economic downturn for driving ice and speed users to “cook” their own drugs.
PERTH
LEE RONDGANGER
as posted here
Friday 7 August 2009
Tuesday 4 August 2009
Cold case rapist jailed for 10 years
as posted here
A 28-year-old Perth man has been sentenced to 10 years' jail for raping a woman on two separate occasions in her own home.
Lawrence Henry Quartermaine was charged after police held a cold case review of the rapes, which happened in 2003.
Quartermaine broke into the woman's home in Maddington and sexually assaulted her while her eight-year-old daughter slept beside her.
He returned three weeks later and committed the same offences.
Quartermaine originally pleaded not guilty to the offences, but changed his pleas after his victim testified in court.
Today, District Court judge Richard Keen described the crimes as "every woman's worst nightmare", and said Quartermaine had shown no remorse or empathy for his victim.
He said Quartermaine had targeted the woman, who had been unable to escape from him because her daughter and her three other children would have been left alone in the house.
Quartermaine will have to serve eight years before he can be considered for release.
as posted here
A 28-year-old Perth man has been sentenced to 10 years' jail for raping a woman on two separate occasions in her own home.
Lawrence Henry Quartermaine was charged after police held a cold case review of the rapes, which happened in 2003.
Quartermaine broke into the woman's home in Maddington and sexually assaulted her while her eight-year-old daughter slept beside her.
He returned three weeks later and committed the same offences.
Quartermaine originally pleaded not guilty to the offences, but changed his pleas after his victim testified in court.
Today, District Court judge Richard Keen described the crimes as "every woman's worst nightmare", and said Quartermaine had shown no remorse or empathy for his victim.
He said Quartermaine had targeted the woman, who had been unable to escape from him because her daughter and her three other children would have been left alone in the house.
Quartermaine will have to serve eight years before he can be considered for release.
as posted here
Man critical after attack outside home
as posted here
A man is in a critical condition in hospital after being bashed in front of his home in the Perth suburb of Gosnells.
The attack happened early this morning.
A 33-year-old man had left a party he was hosting to try to break up a disturbance outside his Walter Street home when he was set upon.
He was punched and kicked, before collapsing and being taken to Royal Perth Hospital.
Police have questioned two men and a woman over the incident.
No charges have been laid at this stage.
as posted here
A man is in a critical condition in hospital after being bashed in front of his home in the Perth suburb of Gosnells.
The attack happened early this morning.
A 33-year-old man had left a party he was hosting to try to break up a disturbance outside his Walter Street home when he was set upon.
He was punched and kicked, before collapsing and being taken to Royal Perth Hospital.
Police have questioned two men and a woman over the incident.
No charges have been laid at this stage.
as posted here
Three-car crash delays continue through Martin
as posted here
A crash involving three cars on Tonkin Highway is causing major delays for motorists this afternoon.
The crash occurred near the intersection of Gosnells Road West in Martin just before 3.30pm.
Heading out of the city, the Mitchell Freeway is busy north bound at Vincent Street and again from Warwick Road to Hepburn Avenue.
Travelling south on the Kwinana Freeway, traffic is slow from the city to Mill Point Road and towards Leach Highway.
The Northbridge Tunnel is flowing well in both directions.
Busy spots include Tonkin Highway at Kewdale Road in both directions, Hay Street and Thomas Street in West Perth and Wellington Street and Barrack Street in Perth.
From mid-morning tomorrow, Main Roads advises it will be trialling Variable Speed Zone (VSZ) on Beaufort Street, from Walcott Street to Lincoln Street, in an attempt to protect pedestrians.
With the VSZ, electronic sign would slow traffic from 60kmh to 40kmh from 7.30am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and to 1am on Friday and Saturday.
PERTH
as posted here
A crash involving three cars on Tonkin Highway is causing major delays for motorists this afternoon.
The crash occurred near the intersection of Gosnells Road West in Martin just before 3.30pm.
Heading out of the city, the Mitchell Freeway is busy north bound at Vincent Street and again from Warwick Road to Hepburn Avenue.
Travelling south on the Kwinana Freeway, traffic is slow from the city to Mill Point Road and towards Leach Highway.
The Northbridge Tunnel is flowing well in both directions.
Busy spots include Tonkin Highway at Kewdale Road in both directions, Hay Street and Thomas Street in West Perth and Wellington Street and Barrack Street in Perth.
From mid-morning tomorrow, Main Roads advises it will be trialling Variable Speed Zone (VSZ) on Beaufort Street, from Walcott Street to Lincoln Street, in an attempt to protect pedestrians.
With the VSZ, electronic sign would slow traffic from 60kmh to 40kmh from 7.30am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and to 1am on Friday and Saturday.
PERTH
as posted here
Monday 3 August 2009
Councils have their sights set on taggers
as posted here
3rd August 2009, 6:00 WST
Taggers beware — Big Brother is watching you.
In response to soaring incidents of graffiti and a clean-up bill running into the millions, fed-up local councils are targeting the taggers with increasingly sophisticated measures.
The City of Joondalup was by far the worst hit with graffiti last year, spending $988,128 on its removal, almost double that in 2007. In response, 14 cameras were installed in April at a cost of $393,681.
The City of Stirling spent $750,000 to remove 15,152 incidents of graffiti last year. About $110,000 from the Office of Crime Prevention has been spent on initiatives such as CCTV, anti-graffiti marketing and removal.
In the City of Belmont, 15,295 incidents of graffiti were reported, up from 9955 the previous year, at a clean-up cost of $212,779. Mayor Glenys Godfrey said the State Government had funded a CCTV system which could film in extremely low light from more than 200m away. Other systems being tested responded directly to events as they occurred, with no need for operators.
“When an event is triggered, (the software) will notify our Neighbourhood Watch security guards by SMS, email the last few minutes of footage to our security control room, while also allowing police and security to log directly into the triggered camera,” she said.
Removing graffiti in the City of Perth cost $381,869, including two graffiti removal vans and free removal service. A third van was expected to be operational by next month. A permanent network of CCTV cameras cost the city about $1.2 million a year.
Rockingham mayor Barry Sammels said $350,000 would be spent on fighting graffiti in the city in the coming year. “Graffiti is an eyesore,” he said. “No matter what neighbourhood you live in, you should not have to tolerate this urban blight.”
In the City of Fremantle, ratepayers footed a $130,000 clean-up bill, up from $95,000. Chief executive Graeme Mackenzie said a $240,000 network of 11 CCTV cameras installed in 2007 was already paying dividends, with 535 incidents of antisocial behaviour recorded, leading to 124 on-the-spot arrests.
Graffiti clean-up cost the Town of Vincent $145,000, $673,948.00 in the City of Swan, $270,000 in the City of Cockburn and $326,838 — an increase of 16 per cent — in the City of Wanneroo, which plans to install a new CCTV network.
The City of Gosnells plans to spend $305,204 on fighting graffiti this year. Volunteers have also “adopted” 52 bus shelters in the past five months, scrubbing out tags almost as soon as they appear.
The only localities which reported a downturn in incidents, including the cities of Nedlands, Subiaco and Melville, were those which commissioned urban art projects and gave young taggers a chance to practise their skills.
About 170 reports a week were made to the Office of Crime Prevention’s “goodbye graffiti” hotline and website in the past year, but just five rewards were handed out to those leading to a conviction.
The State Government’s revamped Graffiti Taskforce held its first forum in June, with a program aimed to make juvenile offenders accountable for their actions due to be piloted this year.
FLIP PRIOR
as posted here
3rd August 2009, 6:00 WST
Taggers beware — Big Brother is watching you.
In response to soaring incidents of graffiti and a clean-up bill running into the millions, fed-up local councils are targeting the taggers with increasingly sophisticated measures.
The City of Joondalup was by far the worst hit with graffiti last year, spending $988,128 on its removal, almost double that in 2007. In response, 14 cameras were installed in April at a cost of $393,681.
The City of Stirling spent $750,000 to remove 15,152 incidents of graffiti last year. About $110,000 from the Office of Crime Prevention has been spent on initiatives such as CCTV, anti-graffiti marketing and removal.
In the City of Belmont, 15,295 incidents of graffiti were reported, up from 9955 the previous year, at a clean-up cost of $212,779. Mayor Glenys Godfrey said the State Government had funded a CCTV system which could film in extremely low light from more than 200m away. Other systems being tested responded directly to events as they occurred, with no need for operators.
“When an event is triggered, (the software) will notify our Neighbourhood Watch security guards by SMS, email the last few minutes of footage to our security control room, while also allowing police and security to log directly into the triggered camera,” she said.
Removing graffiti in the City of Perth cost $381,869, including two graffiti removal vans and free removal service. A third van was expected to be operational by next month. A permanent network of CCTV cameras cost the city about $1.2 million a year.
Rockingham mayor Barry Sammels said $350,000 would be spent on fighting graffiti in the city in the coming year. “Graffiti is an eyesore,” he said. “No matter what neighbourhood you live in, you should not have to tolerate this urban blight.”
In the City of Fremantle, ratepayers footed a $130,000 clean-up bill, up from $95,000. Chief executive Graeme Mackenzie said a $240,000 network of 11 CCTV cameras installed in 2007 was already paying dividends, with 535 incidents of antisocial behaviour recorded, leading to 124 on-the-spot arrests.
Graffiti clean-up cost the Town of Vincent $145,000, $673,948.00 in the City of Swan, $270,000 in the City of Cockburn and $326,838 — an increase of 16 per cent — in the City of Wanneroo, which plans to install a new CCTV network.
The City of Gosnells plans to spend $305,204 on fighting graffiti this year. Volunteers have also “adopted” 52 bus shelters in the past five months, scrubbing out tags almost as soon as they appear.
The only localities which reported a downturn in incidents, including the cities of Nedlands, Subiaco and Melville, were those which commissioned urban art projects and gave young taggers a chance to practise their skills.
About 170 reports a week were made to the Office of Crime Prevention’s “goodbye graffiti” hotline and website in the past year, but just five rewards were handed out to those leading to a conviction.
The State Government’s revamped Graffiti Taskforce held its first forum in June, with a program aimed to make juvenile offenders accountable for their actions due to be piloted this year.
FLIP PRIOR
as posted here
Sunday 2 August 2009
Man, 33, fights for life after assault outside party
as posted here
A 33-year-old man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was assaulted in a fight in Gosnells early this morning.
It is believed the man had been at a friend’s 30th birthday party at a Walter Street house.
Witnesses reported that youths were causing a disturbance in the street and a fight started when party-goers told them to leave the area.
Armadale Det-Sgt Craig Collins said several men and women attending the party had been injured in the altercation in the street.
He said some of them had received medical treatment for their injuries but none except the 33-year-old had been admitted to hospital.
Police were called to the scene in Walter Street about 1am. Det-Sgt Collins said the first police to arrive saw people fighting but they quickly dispersed.
The 33-year-old was found injured in a nearby park.
Police are questioning several people over the incident but are also appealing for witnesses.
“We are calling on witnesses, either those involved in the incident or those who may be able to provide information to the investigation to come forward,” he said.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
PERTH
GABRIELLE KNOWLES
as posted here
A 33-year-old man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was assaulted in a fight in Gosnells early this morning.
It is believed the man had been at a friend’s 30th birthday party at a Walter Street house.
Witnesses reported that youths were causing a disturbance in the street and a fight started when party-goers told them to leave the area.
Armadale Det-Sgt Craig Collins said several men and women attending the party had been injured in the altercation in the street.
He said some of them had received medical treatment for their injuries but none except the 33-year-old had been admitted to hospital.
Police were called to the scene in Walter Street about 1am. Det-Sgt Collins said the first police to arrive saw people fighting but they quickly dispersed.
The 33-year-old was found injured in a nearby park.
Police are questioning several people over the incident but are also appealing for witnesses.
“We are calling on witnesses, either those involved in the incident or those who may be able to provide information to the investigation to come forward,” he said.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
PERTH
GABRIELLE KNOWLES
as posted here
Saturday 1 August 2009
Gosnells Bicycle User Group (GO BUG)
as posted here
Description:
The GO BUG is made up of cyclists working towards increasing cycling within the boundaries of City of Gosnells. Members regularly cycle for errands, shopping, commuting, social activities, fitness, recreation and sport. We are serious about cycling as transport. We aim to get more people on bikes more often - making cycling more visible and making the City of Gosnells a safer and more convenient place to ride.
Region: WA - Capital - East
When we meet: Saturdays, .
Where we meet: Bailey's Coffee & Cream, Agonis, Gosnells, 6110
Fees: n/a
as posted here
Description:
The GO BUG is made up of cyclists working towards increasing cycling within the boundaries of City of Gosnells. Members regularly cycle for errands, shopping, commuting, social activities, fitness, recreation and sport. We are serious about cycling as transport. We aim to get more people on bikes more often - making cycling more visible and making the City of Gosnells a safer and more convenient place to ride.
Region: WA - Capital - East
When we meet: Saturdays, .
Where we meet: Bailey's Coffee & Cream, Agonis, Gosnells, 6110
Fees: n/a
as posted here
Bus driver hospitalised after cowardly thugs attack
as posted here
Nicole Cox, Nick Taylor and Glenn Cordingley
August 01, 2009 05:00pm
ANGRY bus drivers said ``enough is enough'' and voted to take immediate industrial action after a spate of violent attacks.
Driver Gerard Sin may lose an eye after a vicious assault on Friday night. He was punched and pelted with a chunk of concrete after refusing to allow three men to board.
He saw his attacker ``eye to eye'' before he lost consciousness.
Drivers have now refused to travel on a route where serious violent incidents have occurred. A mass stopwork meeting will be held this week.
Transport Workers Union delegates ordered all drivers to refuse to travel on a route where serious violent incidents have occurred and urged members not to drive buses that do not have security screens.
A mass stop-work meeting will be held on Wednesday or Thursday to demand driver safety screens on every bus, more mobile security patrols, on-the-spot fines, banning lawbreakers from public transport and tougher powers for guards.
The industrial action came as doctors yesterday fought to save a bus driver's eye after he was left with shocking facial injuries during a vicious assault in Armadale on Friday night.
The 59-year-old Thornlie man, Gerard Sin, was punched, kicked and pelted with a chunk of concrete after he refused to allow a group of men to board the bus at 6.40pm.
Police say the attack -- the latest in a spate against bus drivers -- is one of the most violent and brazen in recent times.
Mr Sin, an employee of Swan Transit, was driving on the No.250 route when he was hailed down by a group of up to eight men.
It is believed the men wanted to board the bus at the intersection of Church Ave and Sixth Rd, but it is not a designated bus stop.
``He's opened the doors, there's been a verbal altercation. He's closed the doors, but they've been forced open again by one of the males who's got on the bus and kicked him,'' said Det-Sen-Constable Rob Jamieson.
One of the men attacked the driver, hitting him with a large chunk of concrete before he was kicked in the left side of his torso.
He was then dragged away, but returned with the block of concrete, which he threw at Mr Sin, smashing him in the left side of the face.
``There's been a continual verbal altercation while he's assaulted the bus driver,'' Det-Sen-Con Jamieson said.
``There was no apparent motivation for the attack. It's just a vicious, cowardly attack.''
Police said that as the assault took place, other members of the group catapulted another piece of concrete through the windscreen of the bus before fleeing.
Mr Sin was taken to Armadale Hospital and transferred to Fremantle Hospital where he underwent surgery to his face and eye yesterday.
Transport Workers Union bus industry organiser Kevin Starr said officials would call a mass stop-work meeting this week to discuss the safety concerns. ``We have to stop this,'' Mr Starr said.
``Drivers have simply had enough, had enough.
``We are bus drivers. Why the hell does anyone want to bash a bus driver? Because we are an easy target.
``Until such time as we have a mass meeting of all members, we are going to ban driving after dark without a cage bus.
``If there are any incidents that happen over the next few days as we will quite simply ban the routes.
Mr Starr apologised for any inconvenience to passengers, but said: ``My responsibility is to the drivers.''
Public Transport Authority chief executive Reece Waldock said the PTA would consider banning or restricting some routes during problem times.
``It may be a short-term response, but I am not sure that it meets the needs of those communities that most need the services,'' Mr Waldock said.
He said the cost of putting security guards on every bus, combined with the logistics would prove difficult and was not being considered. Mr Waldock said about 30 per cent of Transperth buses had security cabs protecting drivers.
Police are asking for the public's help to identify the culprits. The group are described as being dark skinned, with the main offender is described as being aged between 19 and 22.
He was clean shaven, wearing a dark zip-up hoodie jumper, light coloured jeans and light coloured shoes.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
as posted here
Nicole Cox, Nick Taylor and Glenn Cordingley
August 01, 2009 05:00pm
ANGRY bus drivers said ``enough is enough'' and voted to take immediate industrial action after a spate of violent attacks.
Driver Gerard Sin may lose an eye after a vicious assault on Friday night. He was punched and pelted with a chunk of concrete after refusing to allow three men to board.
He saw his attacker ``eye to eye'' before he lost consciousness.
Drivers have now refused to travel on a route where serious violent incidents have occurred. A mass stopwork meeting will be held this week.
Transport Workers Union delegates ordered all drivers to refuse to travel on a route where serious violent incidents have occurred and urged members not to drive buses that do not have security screens.
A mass stop-work meeting will be held on Wednesday or Thursday to demand driver safety screens on every bus, more mobile security patrols, on-the-spot fines, banning lawbreakers from public transport and tougher powers for guards.
The industrial action came as doctors yesterday fought to save a bus driver's eye after he was left with shocking facial injuries during a vicious assault in Armadale on Friday night.
The 59-year-old Thornlie man, Gerard Sin, was punched, kicked and pelted with a chunk of concrete after he refused to allow a group of men to board the bus at 6.40pm.
Police say the attack -- the latest in a spate against bus drivers -- is one of the most violent and brazen in recent times.
Mr Sin, an employee of Swan Transit, was driving on the No.250 route when he was hailed down by a group of up to eight men.
It is believed the men wanted to board the bus at the intersection of Church Ave and Sixth Rd, but it is not a designated bus stop.
``He's opened the doors, there's been a verbal altercation. He's closed the doors, but they've been forced open again by one of the males who's got on the bus and kicked him,'' said Det-Sen-Constable Rob Jamieson.
One of the men attacked the driver, hitting him with a large chunk of concrete before he was kicked in the left side of his torso.
He was then dragged away, but returned with the block of concrete, which he threw at Mr Sin, smashing him in the left side of the face.
``There's been a continual verbal altercation while he's assaulted the bus driver,'' Det-Sen-Con Jamieson said.
``There was no apparent motivation for the attack. It's just a vicious, cowardly attack.''
Police said that as the assault took place, other members of the group catapulted another piece of concrete through the windscreen of the bus before fleeing.
Mr Sin was taken to Armadale Hospital and transferred to Fremantle Hospital where he underwent surgery to his face and eye yesterday.
Transport Workers Union bus industry organiser Kevin Starr said officials would call a mass stop-work meeting this week to discuss the safety concerns. ``We have to stop this,'' Mr Starr said.
``Drivers have simply had enough, had enough.
``We are bus drivers. Why the hell does anyone want to bash a bus driver? Because we are an easy target.
``Until such time as we have a mass meeting of all members, we are going to ban driving after dark without a cage bus.
``If there are any incidents that happen over the next few days as we will quite simply ban the routes.
Mr Starr apologised for any inconvenience to passengers, but said: ``My responsibility is to the drivers.''
Public Transport Authority chief executive Reece Waldock said the PTA would consider banning or restricting some routes during problem times.
``It may be a short-term response, but I am not sure that it meets the needs of those communities that most need the services,'' Mr Waldock said.
He said the cost of putting security guards on every bus, combined with the logistics would prove difficult and was not being considered. Mr Waldock said about 30 per cent of Transperth buses had security cabs protecting drivers.
Police are asking for the public's help to identify the culprits. The group are described as being dark skinned, with the main offender is described as being aged between 19 and 22.
He was clean shaven, wearing a dark zip-up hoodie jumper, light coloured jeans and light coloured shoes.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
as posted here
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