Call for 24-hour private security in Frankston to stop youth crime
Frankston workers say crime has been “normalised” in the CBD. Do you feel safe? HAVE YOUR SAY
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Traders still reeling from the shocking, alleged stabbing of an 11-year-old girl in Melbourne’s south are calling for 24-hour private security.
Frankston business owners and workers say children as young as 10 were regularly stealing from and vandalising businesses along Young St and gang fights were common in the laneways between Wells St and Bayside Shopping Centre.
Bernard Constantine, who has worked at a 7-Eleven on Young St for 15 years, said he felt powerless in the face of a youth crime wave.
“Groups of kids, many of them who look like they should be in primary school, come in and steal things all the time,” he said.
“They know they can’t be arrested. There’s nothing I can do.”
Mr Constantine said he watched as teens arrived via train “looking for action” late at night.
He said: “We’re open 24 hours. I see it all”.
“Our door and windows are always getting smashed. (The door) was kicked in again last week.”
The June 16 attack in Gallery Lane that put an 11-year-old girl in hospital after she was allegedly stabbed about 12.15am, shocked even the most experienced traders.
A 14-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl were later charged with armed robbery and assault.
“What happened highlighted how bad things have got,” Mr Constantine said.
Cab driver Bill, who is a regular at the Young St taxi rank, said while police and PSOs patrolled the precinct, more resources were needed, especially after dark.
“It would take 24 hour security to make it safe,” he said.
“I feel like crime is normalised here. Just another day in Frankston.
“Even a kid of 11 getting stabbed late at night hasn’t changed things.”
Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy said while private patrols were not being considered, the council had “invested significantly in a substantial network” of CCTV cameras across the city.
The council’s safer communities team worked with police to identify sites for the cameras based on the locations of incidents attended by officers.
“Council’s CCTV program has been hugely successful in improving residents’ feelings of safety and security, as well as assisting Victoria Police in responding to crime,” Cr Conroy said.
Frankston police said traders’ fears about youth crime were not reflected in the most recent crime statistics.
Police intelligence also indicated there was not a significant number of youth gangs offending within or based in Frankston.
The latest data available revealed there were 467 alleged offences committed in Frankston by those aged 10-17 to the year ending March 2022.
The figure was slightly down from 499 in 2021 and lower than the number of alleged offences recorded in the local government area in 2020 (524) before Covid lockdowns began.
Local Area Commander, Acting Inspector Miro Majstorovic said Crime Statistics Agency data to March 2022 showed overall theft was at a 10-year low in Frankston.
The area also had the second lowest number of robberies since 2012.
“Police are aware that youth offenders are often heavily represented in crime categories such as robberies and theft, so to see a decrease in these areas is pleasing,” Insp Majstorovic said.
Crimes against the person which peaked at 2370 in 2017 had dropped to 1960 and assaults were also down from 1243 in 2021 to 1147 to March 2022.
“While these are overwhelmingly positive statistics, each victim of crime is one too many and we will not sit idly by as crime occurs,” Insp Majstorovic said.
Traders were encouraged to report crimes to police.
A community safety forum will be held by police in Langwarrin on August 18 to discuss high risk driving, youth crime, family violence, mental health and emergency management.
Superintendent Fiona Bock said police were looking forward to the chance to engage with the community and offer clarity on any topical issues.
“A large part of keeping crime rates low is listening to and acting on any concerns that may be bubbling away beneath the surface,” she said.
Traders were encouraged to register to attend the public forum by emailing frankston-commsafe-mgr@police.vic.gov.au
Long time Station St pawn shop owner Tony Cimorelli said police were only part of the solution to Frankston’s youth crime wave.
“You see these kids hanging around and get to know them,” he said.
“It becomes obvious very quickly that they have no one to show them right from wrong.”
He said many of the young people causing trouble in Frankston were not locals, including the recent stabbing victim, who came from Port Melbourne.
“It’s the end of the line. They come here because they think they’ll find some action,” he said.
“We need to do more as a community to engage with young people and offer them alternatives to hanging around on the streets causing trouble.”
Frankston Council recently invested $200,000 setting up a new business and industry group to give traders a voice.
The Frankston Business Collective, which was officially launched earlier this month, agreed that youth crime was a serious issue.
Chairman Jeff Rogut said while a strong police presence was needed to deter “professional shoplifters” a different approach was needed to tackle young offenders.
“We don’t see youth crime as a problem that can be solved by having a police officer on every corner,” Mr Rogut said.
“It’s a social issue that would benefit from having the business community involved in programs that engage with disadvantaged and disaffected youth.”
Mr Rogut encouraged traders to share their concerns and suggestions with the Frankston Business Collective via its website