Cairns business manager’s living nightmare with drunk, homeless and defecating people

A CBD hotel manager has had a gutful of cleaning human waste from outside his business off the back of what he says are worsening numbers of drunk and homeless people passed out on city streets. Here’s what he’s crying out for.

A CBD hotel manager has had a gutful of cleaning human urine and faeces from outside his business amid what he says are worsening numbers of drunk and homeless people passed out on city streets.

Harry Bozza, manager at the Inn Cairns, said he gave up contacting police or council after a string of “horrible” aggressive drunken threats and attacks left him scared for his and his customers safety.

He worries his business will take a hit, having heard complaints from customers about the number of homeless and drunk in the CBD.

Manager of Inn Cairns Boutique Apartments Harry Bozza is fed up with homeless and drunk people congregating around the front of his Lake Street business. He watches them relieve themselves in broad daylight, and wants the council and police to do more to move them on. Picture: Brendan Radke

“They’re drinking and yelling at people, we don’t feel safe,” he said.

“We reached out to council and nothing’s happening, it’s practically not possible to call the police every time because we have to stay on the line for half an hour.”

But it’s more than that – people are defecating and peeing in the street.

“We try to stop them but they turn aggressive, the other day they came at us with a bottle,” he said.

“We have to clean it too, (council) doesn’t wash it down properly.”

In three years of managing the hotel, Mr Bozza said the issue has worsened dramatically in the past 12 months, with customers turned off visiting Cairns.

And he’s not alone in his anguish, with other CBD business owners have expressing their horrific experiences, attacks and concerns over the rampant crime.

A drunk man sleeps in the Shields Street Mall. Picture: Brendan Radke

“They say, how come Cairns has become so dirty,” he said.

“It doesn’t look like a touristy place anymore.”

To combat this, Cairns Regional Council introduced a rapid response clean up crew to deal with rubbish and “unsightly substances”, according to Destry Puia, council director of lifestyle and community.

“In most cases the clean-up occurs before business openings or is responded to within the hour,” he said.

“Council has also announced a partnership with the QPS Cross Cultural Police Liaison unit, to be located at the Esplanade office. Since its introduction of the CSP, there has been no escalation in reported incidents and feedback from city traders and visitors has been positive.”

A homeless woman and man sleep on a garden bed in the Shields Street Mall. Picture: Brendan Radke

But the added police presence isn’t fixing the escalating numbers of homeless and intoxicated people according to Mr Bozza.

“More police beats on the Esplanade has pushed them from there into Lake St,” he said.

Cairns police beat officer in charge Gary Hunter said the Cairns anti-social and public space team consisting of 6 officers was formed specifically address those behaviours.

A number of interventions including move on directions, drunk diversions and banning notices are used by police.

“Police patrols hours have increased to address issues being experienced in the Cairns CBD and the patrols are conducted daily,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns business manager’s living nightmare with drunk, homeless and defecating people