City’s security crackdown intensifies amid state government shortfalls

The City of Melbourne has continued to roll out a range of security initiatives across the inner city. However, several councillors have voiced concerns about having to address issues that the state government is failing to manage.

Amid increasing concerns about crime levels in the inner-city, the council installed CCTV cameras on Lygon St last year. These cameras have captured more than 210 pieces of footage related to criminal activity.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the cameras were “making a big impact” in improving safety in Carlton, with the program jointly funded by the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government.

However, not all of the council’s efforts to enhance city safety have received the same level of support. Its trial of security guards was initiated after Victoria Police declined a request to provide two police officers to work alongside the City's local laws officers.

The trial commenced on March 7, with Crownland Security guards contracted to assist local laws officers in patrolling the CBD, Carlton and Southbank safely. It was initially intended to run for six weeks, with the trial’s continuation to be based on its results.

The council has since voted to extend the trial, citing ongoing security concerns around begging and alcohol consumption, with the Collins Street Precinct Group, along with Kmart and Louis Vuitton, reportedly calling for the trial to continue.

To fund the extension, the council has allocated a further $100,000, with the program now expected to continue through to July 1.

The council’s finance, governance and risk portfolio lead Cr Owen Guest told Inner City News that while he couldn’t oppose the trial’s extension, he felt the City was assuming responsibility for an issue inadequately addressed by the Victorian Government.

At the April 15 Future Melbourne Committee meeting, Cr Guest admitted he didn’t “resent” the extension itself but did resent the circumstances that led to it.

“We need to get on the front foot here,” he said. “I fully accept that you’ve been trying to negotiate behind the scenes, but clearly it hasn’t been as effective as we need it to be.”

The extension decision was also criticised for overstepping its original six-week scope, and the proposal was brought before the council without analysis of the trial data.

Cr Davydd Griffiths delivered a strong critique of the decision during the meeting, describing it as “embarrassing” to even consider the motion.

“The kind of epithet we try to avoid as a council is ‘Clown Hall’,” he said. “This is exactly the sort of motion, especially raised as urgent business, that earns us that nickname.”

“It’s the opposite of how policy on such an important issue should be made. You can hear I’m absolutely outraged that we’re handling it this way,” he added.

The council’s portfolio lead for safety and cleaning Cr Rafael Camillo noted that during the trial period there had been more than 1000 engagements with individuals involved in offending behaviour across the city.

“The presence of a professional security provider, just to remind everyone, supports local laws officers in enforcing regulations,” he said. “The primary goal of this trial was to create a safer environment for everyone.”

Cr Camillo confirmed that the extension of the trial would allow for a greater dataset to be collected that will be used to inform future city safety and security policies and initiatives. •