And fearful traders and shoppers in the region call on Victoria Police to ramp up patrols in the area and on Greater Dandenong Council to increase security.

One officer told Leader alcohol and drug abuse – and related crime – were rife and he joined fearful traders and shoppers in calling for extra security.

“The security at the Dandenong Plaza work really well with us and we’d like to see this in the main areas as well,” he said.

Business owners and locals have spoken out about what they see as a deterioration of central Dandenong. They say they’re fed up with the confronting scenes they witness daily

believing it’s only a “matter of time” before someone is killed or seriously injured.

TIME FOR ACTION

Today Greater Dandenong Leader joins the community in its call for action, launching our ‘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 Dandenong community also wants to see a concerted effort to tackle growing homelessness and anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood.

McCrae St trader Teresa McCreesh said she had witnessed violent assaults and anti-social behaviour on a daily basis.

“Just the other day there was a brutal assault in the public toilets nearby – we thought it was a murder at first as there was a heavy police presence,” Ms McCreesh said.

“We have also had gang fights right outside our store with it resulting in putting the whole shop in lockdown.”

The clothing store worker said she was calling on police and the council to tackle the crime wave and anti-social behaviour.

“I come to work in the morning and see people injecting themselves or drinking until they fall over – it’s so confronting.

“We’ve also had drunk people light fires in the nearby alleyway – it’s out of control.”

Sarah Clifton, another fashion store employee, said increased police and security patrols was a “desperate need”.

“Police are doing a great job already but we still need more patrols – we’re still dealing with fights and drug use,” Ms Clifton said.

“I’m continuously seeing people injecting themselves and smoking crack pipes on the bench outside the shop.”

Regular shopper Lillian Cochrane said a “huge problem” with drugs in the precinct was a big concern for her.

“Everyday I come here and something happens – nothing is being done about it,” Ms Cochrane said.

“We need more police around here – there are so many drug users and it can be very scary.”

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POLICE DEDICATED TO DANDENONG CBD

However, Greater Dandenong Local Area Commander Inspector Mark Langhorn said dedicated, proactive patrols policed the Dandenong CBD and surrounds regularly.

He said the Proactive Policing Unit was also working closely with local businesses on crime prevention strategies.

“These patrols are regularly supported by the local council and specialist police units such as the Mounted Branch, Transit Safety Division and Highway Patrol to boost our visibility and provide reassurance to the community,” Insp Langhorn said.

“In April last year we also established Operation Tidal which uses a highly visible police presence to target crime across the Casey, Greater Dandenong and Cardinia Police Service Areas.”

The operation has resulted in more than 900 arrests.

“The community can be assured Victoria Police’s priority is making sure people are safe and feel safe in the Greater Dandenong area.

“Any issues relating to increased CCTV and security patrols is a matter for the local council.”

Greater Dandenong Council’s acting director Community Services Tilla Buden said the council didn’t employ security to patrol the wider Dandenong CBD.

“We only employ security to patrol the civic space, which includes Harmony Square and the Civic Centre,” Ms Buden said.

She said the council took the safety of residents, traders and visitors very seriously and met regularly with local police to discuss safety issues.

Responding to the McCrae St workers’ concerns, she said the council had received no reports relating to serious offences in McCrae St from June to December 2019 but did receive 25 reports of a discarded syringes.

CALLS FOR DRUG AND CRIME FORUM

Greater Dandenong councillor Tim Dark, who has been rallying for a drug and crime forum in recent months, said crime was “absolutely a council issue” but argued they can’t battle alone.

“We need a whole injection of resources by local, state and federal governments to mitigate the crime wave we’re seeing,” Cr Dark said.

Dandenong state Labor MP Gabrielle Williams said the government had invested a “record $2 billion” in 3135 additional new police, 187 of which have been allocated to the Dandenong CBD division.

Away from security and policing issues, those assisting homeless and drug or alcohol addicted people say more and better services are needed in Dandenong.

IS DRUG INJECTING ROOM THE ANSWER?

Clinical director of addiction research and education centre Turning Point Dr Matthew Frei believes a drug injecting room could help.

“There’s good evidence from Europe but also from the limited experience we’ve had with our Richmond injecting centre and at Kings Cross that there are benefits overall as it does reduce harm such as overdoses,” Mr Frei said.

He also urged more available treatment for people experiencing issues with alcohol.

Elizabeth Thomas, chief executive of homelessness and crisis support group Wayys said the organisation assisted more than 15,000 people in Melbourne’s southeast in the past year.

“A significant number of those people came to our Dandenong office looking for affordable housing,” Ms Thomas said.

“Homelessness is no longer hidden – it is something that is front of mind for the community,” she said.

She said Greater Dandenong desperately needed a greater range of affordable housing and accommodation options.

“It’s about moving beyond rooming houses to permanent accommodation that helps people rebuild meaningful, sustainable lives,” she said.

HOW CLEAN UP DANDENONG CAMPAIGN WAS BORN

This Clean Up Dandenong campaign developed from my ongoing talks with store owners, workers and shoppers about their growing fears — and sadness — about what’s happening in the shopping precinct.

But its catalyst was the confronting and very sad sight of a man shooting up in an alley near a strip of shops. To learn it was not an unusual occurrence and he wasn’t the only one sparked weeks of talking to people in Dandenong affected by these issues and the authorities tasked with dealing with them.

About midday just weeks ago, I was in central Dandenong hearing from workers and locals about their experiences.

A proactive policing unit on its regular patrols around McCrae St and the wider area allowed me to join them.

Within minutes, they were alerted to two men drinking in a nearby alleyway.

But police patrolling the precinct said the men were homeless and said drug and alcohol use was rife in the precinct.

Minutes later we were on our way to Thomas St where a man was hurling racist slurs at a very shaken woman.

She was distressed and told police the man had slammed his car door into hers and called her a “f**king Muslim”.

As the woman wept, she said she was “so scared” that he was going to hit her.

Questioning police later about the crime issue in Dandenong, he told me police were “spread too thin”.

“We’d like to see more security here – we don’t see them enough.

“The security at the Dandenong Plaza work really well with us and we’d like to see this in the main areas as well,” he said.

Youths roaming in groups around the precinct were a problem, he said.

Just days later, I witnessed the type of gang problem police face daily. Obviously scared onlookers watched large groups of youths gathering at Harmony Square near the council offices.

Within minutes of police arriving the gangs dispersed but another group of youths then began to storm the precinct, with police quickly arresting one of them who was heavily intoxicated.

“F*** you dogs,” one shouted.

“You absolute c*** – you’re racist. I don’t care arrest me – we’re not scared of the law and police,” another shouted to them.

Jermaine, surname withheld, who said he was part of an Islander gang, said rival gangs organised fights on social media with Dandenong being the “central location” to punch on.

“We fight to claim our territory but we don’t think we’re gangsters like some other groups.”

When asked if he thought his gangs were terrorising traders and shoppers, he replied: “nah bro when we got beef we just fight with each other – we don’t hurt others.”

In the park near Dandenong Market, I spoke to a group of about eight men that were drinking alcohol and appeared to be drug affected.

“There’s nothing else for us to do,” one told me.

“We like taking drugs and drinking in the park – the police target us all the time – but we don’t care”, another said.

There is growing concern in Dandenong a lack of affordable, safe housing is forcing more and more people onto the streets.

I spoke to Stanley, last name withheld, who has been living under a bridge for five years.

“I moved once or twice – but I’ve come back – the cops know me,” he said.

“I personally like living here but I think there should be more affordable accommodation for others.

“I know people that are waiting years to get into commission houses – the government needs to help them.”

I passed what seemed to be homeless people sleeping on park benches near the market.
Chris, last name withheld, who was huddled up and asking for money said he was having a “rough time” staying in temporary accommodation.

“It can be really unsafe. We just want to go where we can relax and have peace and quiet – but it’s really tough,” he said.

“There are a lot of violent outbursts and some people fear for their lives, that’s why they’re on the streets.”

suzan.delibasic@news.com.au