Shoppers ‘too afraid’ to visit Dandenong’s CBD due to ongoing drug use and violent gangs
This dramatic picture of a young man shooting up in a Dandenong shopping strip is a sign of a once bustling precinct now over run by drug users and violent gangs, traders say. And they are calling for help. Watch the video.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dandenong’s once-thriving shopping precinct has become rampant with daylight drug use and gang fights, scaring off shoppers and killing business, traders say.
Frustrated business owners on McCrae St have filmed and photographed the confronting scenes occurring daily outside their stores.
One disturbing photo shows a man huddled in a laneway next to the shops injecting drugs and business owners say he is there shooting up regularly.
Video shows drug affected people on the street including a man shop workers say is there almost every day shouting at shoppers and threatening store staff.
Fashion-store worker Sarah Clifton told Greater Dandenong Leader they’ve even had to clean up faeces, urine and vomit from the front of the shop.
“I’ve seen at least three fights break out between youth gangs in the past three weeks – it happens in front of children too – it’s really confronting as they all huddle up and throw punches at each other,” Ms Clifton said.
“We also have people shooting up in the laneways nearby and I’ve seen two serious overdoses in front of the shop.”
Ms Clifton said a terrified neighbouring trader ran into her store recently after a drug-affected man threatened to kill him.
“It was quite confronting and this behaviour is affecting our businesses. By the time we call the police they’re already gone – we need additional police and security patrols.”
She said she was also in shock when she saw what appeared to be blood strewn across the walls of the nearby Boyd Lane alleyway a few days ago.
Another trade who asked not to be named said the blatant drug use was making people “too afraid to walk into our business”.
Crisis support group Cranbourne Information and Support Service has called for a financial boost for the frontline fight against drug and alcohol abuse.
“People who have this addiction feel a sense of hopelessness. They need better access to counselling and detoxing services,” executive officer Leanne Petrides said.
Dandenong councillors Tim Dark and Mayor Jim Memeti say a council drug forum or committee should be established while colleague Cr Matthew Kirwan said the proliferation of bottle shops and the “ridiculously low” booze prices was a huge concern.
Greater Dandenong Council’s community services director Martin Fidler said the council worked closely with police and supported them in addressing crime and anti-social behaviour.
Dandenong Inspector Mick Daly has warned police have “zero tolerance for drug dealers and traffickers, particularly those who prey on the vulnerable”.
“That is why we are committed to investigating and pursuing the illicit drug traffickers and dealers who profit from this trade,” he said.
MORE:
RACV ANALYSIS REVEALS THE ODDS OF A BURGLARY IN YOUR SUBURB
BEST OF MELBOURNE 2019: VOTE FOR MELBOURNE’S BEST BUTCHER
He said officers conduct regular foot patrols in the Dandenong CBD that are supported by
the council and specialist police units such as the Mounted Branch, Transit Safety Division and Highway Patrol.