Police ‘powerless' to shift CBD’s homeless hordes

Despite concerns about drug use and antisocial behaviour at the bottom end of Elizabeth St, police say they have no power to move on homeless people.

Homeless people near the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders streets in the CBD. Picture: Alex Coppel

Police say they have no power to move on homeless people gathering at the bottom end of Elizabeth St.

An increasing level of rough sleeping and antisocial behaviour, including drug use, has frustrated traders in the area.

They say the area is being ruined and customers deterred from the hub, opposite Flinders St railway station.

Melbourne City Council has recently spoken of its concerns and proposed a police pop-up site to restore order.

But the Herald Sun has been told a council by-law would be needed before police could force those who have set up camp to leave.

Victoria Police said rough sleepers were entitled to be there, unless they broke the law.

“It is not an offence to be homeless or to sleep in the street,” a spokeswoman said.

Police talk to a group who were opposite Flinders Street Station. Picture: David Crosling

“Victoria Police can move people on if they are blocking an intersection or a building entry, however, police have limited powers in relation to people sleeping on the street.

“If someone is committing an offence or the safety of the community is jeopardised, police will step in.”

The issue has come into even sharper focus as businesses in the CBD try to ­recover from the devastating impact of the Covid pandemic.

But many of those sleeping on the street break no laws.

The police spokeswoman said, as things stood, the police role was to help the homeless.

“The priority for Victoria Police is to link people who are sleeping rough to the services available to them, and we work closely with local councils and support organisations to address these ­issues,” she said.

Most of the problems on Elizabeth St are confined to a council-funded public space at the southern end, where there has been drug activity and other anti-social behaviour.

The Salvation Army says it has recently seen visitors smoking bongs and ice pipes in the zone.

One rough sleeper was ­recently assaulted, allegedly by someone who had come to Elizabeth St to buy drugs.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp ­recently confirmed she had contacted Police Minister Lisa Neville over the issue of rough sleeping as “a matter of urgency”.

Originally published as Police ‘powerless' to shift CBD’s homeless hordes