Shoppers call for security crackdown on drug-affected loafers around Ringwood’s Eastland

Drug-affected people are loafing around shops and carparks at one of Melbourne’s biggest shopping centres, and security staff are not dealing with the problem, shoppers complain.

Shoppers are concerned about security and behaviour in an Eastland carpark.

Drug-affected people are loafing around shops and carparks at one of Melbourne’s biggest shopping centres, and security staff are not dealing with the problem, shoppers complain.

Ringwood’s Sandra, who didn’t want to give her surname, told Maroondah Leader she recently saw a man “off his face” who was concealing a bottle in a carpark opposite the nearby courthouse.

She said a security officer did not move the man on but assured her the situation was being dealt with.

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Eastland has been marred by “crashed-out” druggies. Picture: Daniel Pockett

Sandra said she had seen similar scenes at the centre on three occasions this year, with people “crashed out completely” and slumped outside a level one entrance to the shops and a nearby newsagency.

“They get moved on but then they come back … security are not dealing with it properly,” she said.

“They just stand around near them, they don’t tell them to get out, they just stand around.”

“To see someone filthy, dirty and off the planet, why should we deal with that?

Sandra said she had raised her concerns with security officers in person and also contacted centre management. She urged them to “step up” and address the issue, which she believes is stemming from nearby Ringwood Magistrates’ Court.

The Ringwood Magistrates’ Court is opposite Eastland’s carpark. Picture: Josie Hayden

Jo Derbyshire said the behaviour was “constant” on Maroondah Leader’s Facebook page.

“Court attendees congregate in the rubbish filled stairwell opposite court/newsagent exit and it always reeks of urine and cigarettes,” she wrote.
“Saw an empty bottle of whiskey next to a pregnancy test there once.”

Ringwood police Sergeant Jodie Vickers said police had not heard any concerns from the public about behaviour in the carpark this year.

Eastland general manager Greg Balmforth said the centre was patrolled by security guards around-the-clock and it also had an extensive CCTV network.

“Homelessness is a pervasive social issue which affects many people across Melbourne, and we work closely with our security team and local police on a range of measures for the safety of these people as well as those who visit and work at Eastland,” he said.

“If anyone in our Eastland community feels unsafe, we would encourage them to contact our

security or guest services team for assistance.”

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