Richmond traders set to protest in support of CCTV cameras on troubled strip

HUNDREDS of traders fed up with anti-social behaviour on Victoria St will come together in favour of increased security measures.

Victoria Street Business Association president Meca Ho says there will be hundreds at next week’s protest for greater security on the strip. Picture: Alex Coppel

HUNDREDS of traders fed up with anti-social behaviour on Victoria St will come together to take a public stand in favour of increased security surveillance.

Business owners want to see CCTV cameras installed on the Richmond street, which has long been plagued by drug use.

Victoria Street Business Association president Meca Ho said drug users intimidated and harassed traders and shoppers for money and snatched people’s bags

“At the moment, we are declining in our trading because of the public safety perception with a lot of (drug) trafficking on the street,” Mr Ho said.

Yarra Council is investigating the possibility of installing the cameras on the street to deal with the problem, with a report due to be presented at the March 22 council meeting.

RELATED: Yarra Council switches on to investigate CCTV cameras for Richmond drug spot

Traders have organised for a protest next month to make it known to the council they want CCTV installed in the Asian dining strip.

When asked how many people he expected to attend the protest, Mr Ho said “in the hundreds”.

Mr Ho has run a family-operated business on Victoria St for 25 years.

After Maribyrnong Council installed CCTV in the Footscray CBD to combat drug trade police credited the cameras for driving down crime in the area.

RELATED: Crime statistics reveal drug arrests are down 45 per cent in Maribyrnong

“We want to claim our street again for no tolerance to anti-social behaviour in our street,” Mr Ho said.

“I want our street to grow again to solve the public perception that Victoria St is unsafe.”

Richmond MP Richard Wynne recently urged the council to partner with the State Government in implementing a 12-month trial of the cameras.

Mr Wynne said the trial would be at “minimal cost” to the council.

Yarra Inspector Dean McGowan said CCTV was acknowledged as a deterrent to crime and held ­perpetrators to account for their actions.

“The release of CCTV footage to the public also greatly assists police in identifying offenders and locating witnesses to crime,” Insp McGowan said.

The protest will be held at Citizens Park on March 8 at 4pm.