Dandenong crime: Drug use, vandalism plagues shopping strip
A Dandenong street is being used by drug users, squatters and people driving up and down looking for sex workers. And traders are mixed on whether a safe injecting room would help.
South East
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A street in Dandenong has become a haven for drug users, squatters and troublemakers, with frustrated traders calling for an increase in security measures.
For the past year, the Leader has reported on ongoing crime and drug use in Hemmings St, Dandenong, which is only metres away from Dandenong West Primary School.
In February, the Greater Dandenong Leader launched its ‘Clean Up Dandenong’ campaign, urging Victoria Police and all levels of government to make the precinct safer by increasing police patrols, installing more security cameras and lighting and adding extra security personnel.
The Leader visited the street last week and found more than 11 used syringes scattered in a laneway behind the popular shopping strip.
There was also mounds of dumped rubbish including empty alcohol bottles and spray cans.
Trader Az Adili said the laneway was frequently being used by drug users.
“There’s been drug use in the laneway and fights and thefts in the area – it’s been unsafe,” Mr Adili said.
Another trader, who asked not to be named, said the area had also become a hotspot for sex workers and squatters living inside a notorious derelict house, which has sat vacant for more than a year.
“Night time is really the worst here, there are people driving up and down the street looking for sex workers, I feel for those women because some of them are also living rough,” he said.
“The derelict house is still being used by squatters, even though the council said it would be knocked down, it’s just attracting the wrong crowd.
“I do see police often in the area and they’re very responsive when they’re called out. But it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have more patrols from them and permanent security stationed on the street.”
The Leader visited the street at 11pm on Thursday, November 12 to investigate anti-social behaviour, and heard squatters shouting and smashing bottles inside the derelict house.
In August, a resident, who asked not to be named in fear for her safety, said crime on Hemmings St was out of control, saying she was forced to call the police daily.
The woman has also sent photos to Leader, which showed needles being scattered in the precinct and a “sex tent” set up in nearby Hemmings Park, which she says was being used by sex workers in the area.
“There were sleeping bags inside, along with a whole heap of condom wrappers. I reported the sex tent to the council along with photos,” she said.
When the Leader asked traders if they supported the idea of a safe injecting room nearby Hemmings St, some suggested it could fix the issue, while others feared it could attract more crime and anti-social behaviour.
Melbourne University alcohol and drug policy expert Associate Professor John Fitzgerald said injecting rooms worked really well when there was several incidents of public injecting.
“What injecting rooms do well is that they move the injecting from being in public to a more controlled setting,” Assoc Prof Fitzgerald said.
“What you don’t want is injecting going on in public and you don’t want it causing harm to residents, businesses or the drug users.”
Greater Dandenong Inspector Mark Langhorn said police regularly and proactively patrolled busy public places across the Dandenong Police Service Area, including Hemmings St and surrounds.
“Local police run highly-visible, intelligence-based patrols as Operation Tidal, which are focused on not only detecting and deterring crime, but also ensuring the public feels safe,” Insp Langhorn said.
“We encourage the community to report criminal activity or anti-social behaviour to police, so we can investigate and hold offenders to account.”
Greater Dandenong Council Community Services director Martin Fidler said the council had been working proactively with the State Government, Victoria Police, DHHS, Neighbourhood Watch and key stakeholders to address perceptions of crime and community safety issues in the Hemmings St Precinct.
“Council has received advice that it will be funded by the State Government to improve community safety infrastructure around the municipality, including the Hemmings St precinct,” Mr Fidler said.
He said the council endorsed a consultation process to engage local residents, traders and all key stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft Hemmings Street Precinct Action Plan.
“The key aim of the Action Plan is for the community, council, State Government, local services and Victoria Police to partner together and improve safety in the area.”
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