POLICE ANSWER DENHAM FUNERAL COMPLAINTS
Tittums family member Del Wedding asked Ngaarda Media to put a series of questions to Police
GEOFF VIVIAN
Police have provided a detailed response to complaints by Tittums family members about their treatment as they farewelled two cousins in two separate funerals earlier this month.
Ngaarda Media submitted the following questions to the WA Police on behalf of the family:
Grateful if you can confirm the following, whether they were police initiatives, and if possible a comment as to why they were taken:
They tell me a liquor restriction was imposed at five minutes’ notice from noon on Thursday, May 5 and not lifted until Sunday.
They tell me a police circular went out over social media warning people to lock cars etc as Aboriginal people were converging on the town.
Many businesses closed their doors for three days.
They tell me the pub mysteriously on Friday and Saturday, even though they had booked the saloon bar for a finger food function after the funerals.
Businesses reopened and liquor restrictions were lifted for a “Fishing Fiesta” which started on the Sunday.
The family are angry and upset as they say this has never happened before in Denham, as Shark Bay Shire is known as an oasis of racial harmony compared to others in WA.
A Police Media spokesperson provided this response:
The Liquor Restrictions were a collaborative decision of the Shark Bay Liquor Accord to manage the potential of alcohol based harm within the community. This decision was largely based on the estimated 600-800 family members attending the event which were figures provided by the family itself. These restrictions related to takeaway alcohol only and simply limited availability of higher alcohol content products. The Accord applied these restrictive measures to the entire community. No restrictions were placed on any alcohol purchased and consumed inside any licensed premises (eg hotels).
It was unfortunate that a standard long weekend community safety message regarding locking up your valuables was posted to the wider community. It was not the intention of Shark Bay Police to embarrass the family, but to highlight the standard crime community message to the expected influx of tourists for the Mother’s Day weekend. When raised by the family speaking to Police, the message was immediately retracted to avoid any adverse perceptions. Sergeant Annett personally spoke to senior family members in Shark Bay who raised it, to explain its intentions and negate the negative perception.
WA Police are not aware of any other Shark Bay businesses that closed during this weekend nor can we provide any comment on whether this occurred. The local police did not have any engagement with businesses other than the Liquor Accord.
The Shark Bay Hotel made a commercial decision to close their doors from we were advised were staff shortages. This was a decision made solely by this licensee. The Heritage Hotel located nearby remained open for full trading as did the local bottle shop.
It is understood that The Shark Bay Hotel hosted a pre-planned and well published Mother’s Day lunch on Sunday 08 May 2022, which may be the reason why the hotel opened on this day. Police did not have any input into this decision nor would we expect to have.
Prior to and during this event, Police remained in close contact with key family members and assisted wherever possible to ensure the funerals were well supported, this included medical support and opening of facilities to accommodation their needs. Police also engaged all family in an open and friendly manner and assisted with traffic support.