Bendigo council meeting derailed as resident kicked out for demanding action on youth crime

A Bendigo resident has been kicked out of a council meeting after demanding the mayor answer what the city was doing to address the plague of violent youth crime on the streets.

A Bendigo resident has been kicked out of a meeting after demanding the mayor provide answers what the council was doing to address youth crime.

A frustrated Bendigo resident has been booted out of a council meeting after demanding answers on what is being done to address the crime plaguing the city.

The meeting was temporarily shut down when Kaylene O’Brien went overtime during public question time asking Bendigo Mayor Andrea Metcalf what council had done to make residents “feel safe in their homes and on the streets”.

City of Greater Bendigo Mayo, Councillor Andrea Metcalf Picture: Supplied

“I personally invited you Andrea to join me for 24 hours. You quickly declined,” she said.

“You did not want to see the victims of crime, the drug deals – the elderly that are too scared.

“You refused – so Andrea how many victims have you personally visited, how many do you know by name?

Ms O’Brien tried to reference local laws about public behaviour but was cut off by the mayor as her minute and a half was up.

“You have a duty of care,” Ms O’Brien said as Cr Metcalf tried to speak over her.

Police are investigating after two men were bashed by a group of thugs on Bull St in Bendigo on Saturday, February 8. Picture: Supplied.,

Bendigo has suffered a spate of violent crime and home invasions, leaving residents living in fear.

According to the Crime Statistics Agency Bendigo recorded a 13.3 per cent increase in criminal incidents in the 12 months to September 2024; home invasions increased by 89 per cent and motor vehicle thefts were up 50 per cent, stealing from retail stores had doubled and aggravated robberies were up 69 per cent.

In response to Ms O’Brien, the mayor directed a request for comment to a council spokesman, who said “if community members are feeling unsafe at any time, they must call triple-0 to receive the appropriate help”.

“Councils do not have a role in law and order, police resourcing or justice, however the council does have a role in providing community leadership, collaboration and support,” the spokesman said.

Teenagers have been filmed allegedly attacking a security guard and a bystander at Bendigo Marketplace on March 3. Picture: Facebook.

The spokesman said the council “meets regularly” with Victoria Police, but public safety was a “whole of community issue”.

“City staff have consistently advocated to Victoria Police around anti-social behaviour concerns in the city centre and appreciates the response from Victoria Police to provide local patrols and operations. The community is seeing the benefits to these through recent arrests,’’ they said.

A council employee was allegedly assaulted in a bashing in the Hargreaves St multistorey carpark by a teen charged with stomping on a security guard’s face at Bendigo Marketplace.

“A key way to deter anti-social behaviour is through public activations, increased lighting and ensuring our public spaces are clean. The City has a range of staff that contribute to doing this type of work,” the spokesman said.