Rockingham, once known as Perth's car theft capital, has been named the safest local government area in Western Australia, according to new analysis by comparison site iSelect. The area scored 82.17 out of 100 in an overall safe living score, beating out other LGAs such as Cockburn, Wanneroo, and Joondalup.
The iSelect analysis used key criteria including property crime, natural disaster exposure, building resilience, and emergency response activity. Rockingham achieved a near-perfect score of 98.01 for property crime, 87.92 for natural disaster exposure, 87.03 for building resilience, and 53.33 for emergency response activity. The area recorded 766 incidents per 100,000 people, fewer than second-placed Cockburn's 923.
The result marks a significant turnaround for Rockingham, which has faced issues with bikie violence and teenage crime. The area is home to the Roc City Mongols chapter and has been a focus for the WA Police Gang Crime Squad. Recent incidents include home burglaries, a shopping centre brawl involving a knife, and a man dumped at Rockingham Hospital with gunshot wounds.
Rockingham Councillor Craig Buchanan expressed relief and optimism, crediting developments such as the Aqua Jetty, City Safe patrol cars, and a new police station in Baldivis for the improvement. He noted the upcoming AUKUS agreement as a positive factor for the area's future.
Councillor Ryan Robertson also welcomed the recognition, stating that safety underpins economic growth and community confidence. He highlighted Rockingham's coastal location, growing workforce, and resilient property market as strengths.
