Brisbane City Council takes action following serious alleged escalation of violence in homeless encampments

A serious escalation of violence and anti-social behaviour has been reported in the homeless encampments across Brisbane including allegations of stabbings, fires, and vandalism.

A tent on fire at Musgrave Park. Photo: Supplied

Brisbane City Council has taken action following a rise in allegations of anti-social behaviour and violence at homeless camps across two inner-Brisbane parks.

A serious escalation of claimed violence and anti-social behaviour has been reported in the homeless encampments at Musgrave Park and Kurilpa Point Park, with allegations of stabbings, fires, and vandalism emerging in the past month.

As a result, council has been forced to turn the power off to ensure community safety.

Barbecue damage. Photo: Supplied

Councillor Sarah Hutton said council was genuinely concerned about the incidents that have been reported.

“We’re genuinely concerned about the serious escalation of violence and anti-social behaviour in these encampments, including alleged stabbings, fires and vandalism of electric barbecues, and have switched off the power for safety reasons,” Ms Hutton said.

Widespread drug use has been reported in the homeless camps in Brisbane. Photo: Supplied

Residents who need power sources are able to use charging services within walking distance of the park seven days a week, including West End Community House and Emmanuel City Mission.

Lighting in Musgrave Park and Kurilpa Point Park is not impacted.

Separately, it comes after a tent was destroyed by a fire at Musgrave Park last week, with witnesses saying the owner has lost everything.

Alisha Risley, who has been living in a tent at Musgrave Park for more than two years, said confirmed there had been a huge escalation in drug-fuelled violence.

“It’s horrible there has been so much violence, it has gotten worse with the drug thing,” Ms Risley said.

“People get way too angry.”

Ms Risley said she was near the tent that caught fire last week and some of her items were lost in the blaze and she tearfully told The Courier Mail of her struggles to find appropriate housing options.

“As far as housing goes they are trying to use my history against me, so they are trying to put me low on the list,” she said.

“The houses that are available for everyone, have drug affected people living there, it’s probably worse than in the park. I know everyone around me, and I’m familiar with the area.”

Tents in a fenced off area at Musgrave Park in South Brisbane which has seen an escalation of fighting and unsociable behaviour according to council complaints.

Ms Risley said the power at her campsite has since been cut.

“They’ve cut the power on us. I am sitting here without a phone battery and my daughter is probably trying to call me,” she said.

Another resident, who did not want to be identified over fears for her safety, said she was hoping to be moved into temporary housing today over fears of the escalating violence in the park.

At Kurilpa Point Park workers could be seen fixing a damaged electrical box lock and told the Courier Mail that residents had been breaking into the switchboard to turn off the park lights at night.

Police said the most recent fire had been deemed non-suspicious, with investigators determining a powerboard connected to numerous appliances had ignited.

The most recent incident was not linked to the incidents described above.

Micah Projects CEO Karyn Walsh said the homeless camps have been “unsettled” over the past month.

“There has certainly been an increase in fires and there’s certainly violence, it happens regularly, when you get that tense build up,” she claimed.

“People are also very mindful of the potential for violence, I mean that’s the nature of when you’ve got groups of people living in tents in public spaces.

“I think at the moment, things do seem a bit unsettled.”

Ms Walsh added that a co-ordinated response is needed from all relevant stakeholders.

“We need a co-ordinated response to how long people are going to be using Musgrave Park as a campsite,” she said.

“BCC (Brisbane City Council) are a part of the solution, as well as state government and community agencies.

“We just need to work together in trying to resolve it so that not too many people are sleeping there, if any.

“Living in a tent in a park is no way for anyone to live.”

Originally published as Brisbane City Council takes action following serious alleged escalation of violence in homeless encampments