Southport’s dangerous thugs: push for 24 hour CBD ban

Dangerous thugs camping out in Southport could face a 24-hour ban if arrested by police under tough new measures.

A homeless person sleeping outside the Uniting Church in Southport.

DANGEROUS thugs camping out in Southport should face a 24-hour ban if arrested by police, a meeting of business leaders has been told.

Traders have also been briefed on how a State Government and council multi-agency taskforce needs to be created to help police deal with the homeless.

A mattress in the Broadwater Parklands on the Gold Coast where homeless teenagers are sleeping.

Division 6 candidate Shaelee Welchman today met with business operators in a bid to respond to a spike in youth crime, vagrancy and homelessness in the CBD.

The Bulletin in a report earlier this week revealed businesses were spending thousands of dollars turning their properties into mini-fortresses complete with canine patrols, fencing and floodlights to warn off violent and abusive vagrants.

The CBD’s parks and public buildings are home to at least 100 homeless fed regularly by welfare groups, but traders fear a “hardcore” group of eight drug and alcohol-fuelled vagrants defecating, urinating, and stealing in Short Street.

Ms Welcham told The Bulletin: “The uniform view is that we need the cops all over this. I’m writing today to the SEQ Police Commissioner Brian Wilkins, himself an old Southport and Keebra Park High boy, asking him to expedite local police plans.”

Fencing erected in Short Street, Southport to keep the homeless out. Picture Glenn Hampson.

‘SHERIFF OF SHORT ST’ REVEALS TRUTH ABOUT VIOLENT VAGRANTS

Ms Welchman who is standing in the Southport division which will be vacated by retiring councillor Dawn Crichlow, said if elected, she would campaign for:

* An Australia Fair-based police beat.

* Cops proactively walking the CBD beat.

* A mobile hotline for traders in harm’s way.

* 24 hour exclusion of perpetrators, with immediate arrest if contravened.

Ms Welchman said that the community understood the difference between homelessness and mental health issues, and the rampant thugs cruising the CBD.

“Homelessness and anti-social behaviour are the number one complaint from businesses who are having to step over people sleeping in their doorways and keeping customers away,” she said.

“It’s having a big impact on their livelihoods, it’s affecting our community and our experience of Southport.

“The majority of people don’t choose to be on the streets and want to be contributing members of society.

“Those that suffer from mental health and addiction are trapped in a vicious cycle. But a line needs to be drawn before the issue gets worse or there is a significant incident.”

Shaelee Welchman has a solution to the homeless crisis in Southport.

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Jo Sherline, a Division 6 candidate who pulled out of the election race at the last minute due to health reasons, said she hoped other candidates would find a solution to the homeless crisis.

“My hope is the successful Division 6 candidate will make these issues a priority and make real change,” she said.

Ms Welchman said police estimate there were 48 known homeless people on the streets of Southport and many more in cars and on couches.

“What we are dealing with is the result of limited action and no one taking ownership,” she said.

“I want the Taskforce to put in place real actions to ensure there are clear pathways for the people doing it tough but real consequences for those who don’t want to be helped.

“People who want to be helped should receive support and assistance to get back on their feet.

“For those that won’t be helped, we need to support the police, through the court system, to keep these people off the streets.”