Dandenong’s out-of-control crime and drug crisis pushes calls for community forum
Leader has for months revealed ongoing crime and drug use in Greater Dandenong, which has plagued the precinct for years. Now, the mayor and councillor say they are taking the issue “very seriously”. Here is what they have planned.
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Fearful residents and traders have for months called for authorities to urgently fix Greater Dandenong’s out of control crime and drug crisis.
And in response to the Greater Dandenong Leader’s ‘Clean Up Dandenong’ campaign, Mayor Jim Memeti said the council was taking the issue “very seriously” and was planning a crime and drug forum to address the precinct’s ongoing issues.
The campaign, which was launched in February, urges 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.
A poll taken on Greater Dandenong’s Facebook page this week revealed an overwhelming majority of respondents felt crime in the precinct was still out of control with 73 people voting for and six against.
Cr Memeti said he met with the council’s community services team and Dandenong state Labor MP Gabrielle Williams this week, calling for a crime forum to be set up.
“Gabrielle was very supportive of the council’s public safety infrastructure grant for $495,000, which we’ve applied to the State Government for and this will install mobile CCTV cameras in the Hemmings St precinct and assist with other crime prevention tools,” he said.
“We are taking this issue very seriously, Gabrielle is organising a roundtable meeting with the police and the ministers for crime prevention and housing and this will help bring the right resources to the residents in that area.”
He said the roundtable meeting was of the highest priority and would occur in a “matter of weeks” to address the issues.
Since February, the Leader has seen a stronger police presence in the precinct, with ongoing patrols by the Public Order Response team and other uniform officers.
But, traders and residents are still calling for more to be done, with a series of brazen crimes including thefts and assaults occurring in recent months.
Greater Dandenong councillor Tim Dark, who has been advocating for a drug and crime forum since February when the Leader launched its campaign, said the issue in the precinct needed “urgent attention” from police and all levels of government.
“We need private security patrols or look at setting up a base with a full time police presence, other councils including Frankston have done this,” Cr Dark said.
“This is something that needs to be done urgently to mitigate Dandenong’s crime wave,” he said.
He said Greater Dandenong Leader's campaign had finally “put a spotlight” on issues that have plagued the crime-riddled precinct for years.
“It’s clear that since Leader started this campaign, we are finally having a serious conversation and taking action to clean up the area.”
Greater Dandenong Local Area Commander Inspector Mark Langhorn said police had been involved in a number of crime and drug forums in the community, and would continue to assess any requests for its involvement on a case-by-case basis when health restrictions permit.
“Police in the Greater Dandenong area continue to work closely with the local council to address any concerns or issues raised by residents,” Insp Langhorn said.
He said Victoria Police were representatives on the Local Safety Advisory Committee, which also involves council members and other local community stakeholders.
“Through this forum, councillors share concerns that have been raised by residents of the City of Greater Dandenong so that police can address and respond to these issues.”
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