Eight arrested as police ramp up efforts to clamp down on rock throwers

Police are fed up with rock throwers putting the lives of innocent people at risk, with juveniles warned they will now be arrested if caught red-handed as they work with the council to clamp down on offenders.

Geraldton police officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Chris Martin confirmed multiple arrests have already been made.

“We’ve arrested eight juveniles (in the past week) who have been charged with criminal damage for these offences not just on the highway but all around the city,” Sen. Sgt Chris Martin said.

Police are adopting a more active strategy to tackle the issue which has plagued the city for more than a year.

“Those who are choosing to rock throw in this community can be expected to be arrested from now on,” Sen. Sgt Martin said.

“This is an ongoing issue that just has not relented, as the police, we have a number of priorities we are constantly juggling but this is now high, high up there on the list.

“I’m less sympathetic than I’ve ever been to the fact the offenders are juveniles now, you will be brought to the police station and asked to explain yourself.”

Sen. Sgt Martin said it was a serious offence with the potential to cause grave injuries.

“We’ve been working very closely with youth policing efforts to prevent it, but to be honest I’ve had enough of that, it’s not working we need to be more thorough and forthright in our efforts to stop the offending through arrests.

“It’s the potential outcome of what could happen that gives me so much fear, we have to eradicate it.

“I’ve seen a lot of studies on projectiles hitting moving vehicles and it just does not bear thinking about the potential consequences.”

Police are also in discussion with the City of Greater Geraldton on ways to address the issue.

“We are looking at other crime prevention strategies to remove some of the bushland in areas of the town so kids can’t hide in the bushes and throw rocks,” Sen. Sgt Martin said.

“Collectively as a community we are coming together to address this.”

Mayor Shane Van Styn said the City was working with various stakeholders over what measures they could take.

“The City is aware of rock-throwing from a parcel of bushland between North West Coastal Highway and St John’s School,” he said.

“This area has historical ties to the Indigenous community and there are restrictions on what can and can’t be done to the bushland.

“As such, we will work closely with the Geraldton Police Station, Main Roads WA as well as the community to try and deter further incidents of rock-throwing.”

People are encouraged to report all incidents of rock-throwing to the police.