Carlton shooting escalates crime fears

Traders along Carlton’s famous dining strip say they are fed-up with boozed-up revellers running amok as reports of escalating violence and crime plague the streets.

Inner City News spoke to several businesses on Lygon St who say they fear for their safety and are calling on authorities to take urgent action.

It comes as a 21-year-old was taken to hospital after being wounded in a drive-by shooting near Argyle Square park in Carlton at around 4am on May 22.

Police said the man had been standing on the road near the intersection of Argyle Place and Lygon St when he was shot.

Investigators believe shots were fired by someone in a light-coloured vehicle which then drove away from the scene.

The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries under police guard.

Local businesses spoke of their shock over the incident and expressed concerns with recent fights, anti-social behaviour, and public drunkenness that was getting “out of control”. 

One restaurant owner, Dominic Dalic, described the situation as “absolutely shocking” and ultimately turning customers away.

“My customers are saying to me they don’t feel safe coming anymore,” he said.

I’m putting the [outdoor] barriers inside because they vandalise everything.

“The demographic has changed big time. They’re smashing every single window, no one’s going to stop them.”

Mr Dalic said last year CCTV had captured a male damaging his outdoor plastic windshield with a knife around 30cm long.

He said he had contacted police dozens of times in the past but stopped “because I feel like I get ignored … no one’s responding”. 

“If this wasn’t my restaurant I wouldn’t come here for sure in this street.”

“They need patrolling here all the time.”

Mr Dalic added his wife had heard reports of a woman being raped in a nearby alleyway while others tried to break into cars.

“Every single night you see guys checking the cars, and that was never happening until maybe a year-and-a-half ago.”

Another trader, who asked not to be named, said he had seen drug dealing and drinking in the streets. 

“The residents are sick of it. There’s a lot of loitering … there’s always lots of empty bottles in the morning around here,” the trader said. 

“Daytime … it’s very civil, then night time comes around … all the cars come out; all the noise, people spilling onto the streets.”

Another trader, who did not wish to be named for fear of retribution, said Lygon St had become a hotspot for boozed-up partygoers and crime with some residents too scared to leave their homes.

“[There were] three drunk guys smashing down the barricades,” he said at the front of a shop. “It is a bit alarming. I feel like you have to get used to it because the police aren’t going to jump in.”

A restaurant worker told Inner City News he didn’t feel safe anymore after a wild brawl broke out involving 15 to 20 people on a Saturday night last month, forcing him to seek refuge indoors. Another trader said, “I don’t want to talk it down but sometimes there is that bad element we don’t like to see. Hopefully the police get onto it and it’ll improve because it’s too good a street.”            

Melbourne North police station Senior Sergeant Rachel Van Someron said community safety remained a key priority. 

“Melbourne North police officers, along with specialist units such as the Public Order Response Team regularly patrol the areas around Carlton, including Lygon St to detect and deter crime, and provide reassurance to the community,” Sen Sgt Van Someron said.

“The local Proactive Policing Unit are regularly engaged with the City of Melbourne and local businesses including the Lygon Street Traders Association to maximise public safety and boost crime prevention measures to further deter criminal activity.”

In a statement, Victoria Police said intelligence showed there had been no increase in public order offending, nor property or criminal damage in the Carlton area in recent months.

“Police work closely with the City of Melbourne on a number of crime prevention initiatives, including the capability of the Safe City Camera Network and enhancing the lighting and visibility of local areas,” the statement said.

“For example, earlier this year, the tree canopy was raised in Argyle Square to enhance lighting and visibility.” 

A City of Melbourne spokesperson said, “The City of Melbourne works closely with Victoria Police as part of a joint commitment to keep our community safe.”

The council has allocated more than $2.8 million to the draft annual plan and budget 2021-22 for city safety measures.

This includes investing in critical infrastructure such as CCTV and street lighting, with $1.8 million to be spent on maintaining 16,000 street lights across the municipality.

Police urged anyone with information about criminal or anti-social behaviour to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. •