(6/12/2018) Freo CCTV helps to find missing man

The City of Fremantle’s CCTV network has helped to locate a missing man and reunite him with his family.

Last Friday, 30 November, the City’s CCTV operator was contacted by Fremantle Police just after 10pm seeking assistance to locate a missing person.

The 64-year-old man, who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease, was reported missing from North Fremantle at 7pm.

Just after 11pm the CCTV operator spotted a man matching the description of the missing person walking along South Terrace looking lost and disorientated.

The operator called in the City’s Community Safety Team who made contact and confirmed he was the missing man.

The Community Safety Officers stayed with the man until local police arrived to reunite him with his family.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said being able to locate the missing man and return him to his family so quickly was a terrific outcome.

“Fremantle is one of just three local governments in WA to actively monitor our CCTV network,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“This incident shows that CCTV, as well as being a valuable crime fighting tool, can be put to good use in a number of positive ways.

“It was great work by our CCTV guys to spot this man, and also by the Community Safety Team to come to his aid and bring about a quick and successful resolution to what could have been a very serious situation.”

The Officer in Charge of Fremantle Police, Acting Senior Sergeant Phil Gazzone, said the incident reinforced the strong working relationship between the City and the police.

“Conducting timely investigations into the whereabouts of this missing man was a priority, and without these resources it could have been very protracted and challenging for us,” Senior Sergeant Gazzone said.

“From an operational policing perspective, the CCTV monitored by City of Fremantle staff is a valuable resource to us which we rely on to support our daily business in keeping the community safe.”

The City of Fremantle currently has a network of 36 cameras covering key locations in the city centre.

The network is set to be expanded following the recent adoption of a new CCTV strategy by Fremantle Council, with an additional 25 cameras to be installed using a $928,000 grant from the federal government’s Safer Communities program.