Call for crime-report calm

The head of a newly formed group of crime busters in Broome has pleaded with the public to be balanced and factual when using social media to report law breakers.

Shire of Broome Community Safety Working Group chairwoman Mala Croft acknowledged the internet was a valuable tool, but said public perception could be "distorted" and "exaggerated".

Comments on a Broome community Facebook page spiralled during a crime spree over the Christmas period when nine people were charged with 38 burglary-related offences.

Latest figures show crime in Broome was up 3.5 per cent compared to the last financial year, which equates to about 65 offences.

"There is a problem (with youth crime) and I think everyone is aware there is a problem, but definitely social media contributes to an increased distortion of the facts," she said.

Ms Croft, who was elected as a Shire councillor in October last year, said it was "probably true" that victims of crime turned to the internet to warn others.

But she believes it "definitely exacerbates" situations and created a "heightened perception".

"There might be an online discussion about one burglary, for example, but because the conversation may become so large it seems like there has been 100 burglaries," she said.

"The positive messaging is not being distributed on social media at the same rate as the negative messaging."

The main purpose of the CSWG is to develop guidelines on matters such as antisocial behaviour, crime and youth issues.

The group will develop a number of recommendations by the end of July for councillors to consider.

Kimberley District Superintendent Allan Adams said social media had the capacity to "exaggerate" but the "perception of crime online was sometimes as important as the reality of crime".

"It has a real impact on people's feelings of safety and security," he said.

"Undoubtedly, the use of social media does have an ability to exaggerate the situation and this is where engagement of authorities through the medium can assist in reassuring the public."

He said a good example was when officers posted on the Kimberley Police Facebook page that a number of juveniles had been arrested for offences of community concern.

Supt Adams said the information was met "very positively" by the public.

Shire president Ron Johnston endorsed Ms Croft's comments.