Survey reveals Frankston workers, locals fear the city streets, tranport precinct

Hundreds have had their say on Frankston’s “youth crime wave” as traders face ongoing thefts and vandalism by children as young as 10. SEE THE SURVEY

Frankston residents, workers and shoppers don’t feel safe in the CBD despite CCTV.

Shoppers and locals don’t feel safe in Frankston and many are avoiding the retail and business precinct, especially after dark, a Leader survey shows.

The survey has revealed 62 per cent of people don’t think the city is safe, 13 per cent aren’t comfortable in the area at night and a further 11 per cent steer clear of the transport precinct and laneways.

Of the 374 people taking part in the exclusive poll, just six per cent felt safe in Frankston and only eight per cent thought it no worse than any other Melbourne suburb.

The survey followed a Leader report that revealed youth crime had been normalised in Frankston and traders wanted 24 hour private security to feel safe in the aftermath of a stabbing in Gallery Lane.

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.”

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.”

The traders fears resonated with locals who said youth crime was “tainting” the area.

“The council has done some really good things in Frankston,” Heather posted to social media. “The Arts centre, the pier precinct are great. Frankston CBD is a different matter, sadly.”

However local 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.

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.

Traders were encouraged to register to attend the public forum by emailing [e-mail]