Undercover cops crack down on fake homeless during Australian Open as tourists are targeted for money
CHIEF Commissioner Graham Ashton has vowed to crack down on fake homeless people who “shake down” tourists for money during the Australian Open.
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UNDERCOVER police will target fake homeless people begging in Melbourne’s streets today as Victoria’s police chief vows authorities are doing all they can to stop the “disgusting” city slums.
Police want the City of Melbourne to strengthen local laws to stop people camping on the street, as officers fear they are powerless to stop the problem.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said people pretending to be homeless had come into the city specifically to “shake down” Australian Open tourists for money.
Police enforced the city’s existing laws such as setting up structures on the street, he said.
But, Mr Ashton said, police “don’t enforce laws that don’t exist”.
“We’ve been meeting with the city council about what extra by-laws we can get because I think it looks disgusting what you see in the city,” he said.
“Whether it’s that law (no camping) or some other law that meets the same ends that’s something that we have to discuss, but that’s the sort of thing we’re looking for.”
From today and throughout the rest of the Open, undercover and uniformed police would be targeting people begging in Melbourne.
Mr Ashton said people pretending to be homeless had come into the city to target summer crowds.
“There’s no reason people should be sleeping on the street, there are no reasons people should be homeless,” he said.
“There’s enough beds and accommodation for people to access.”
The street camps were an “ugly sight”, he said.
“These are not homeless, these are people that are choosing to camp ... because people are visiting the city at this time of year and there’s more people to shake down for money,” Mr Ashton said.
The homeless camp outside Flinders St station has engulfed the Australian Open’s main gateway, stunning visitors faced with aggression and rampant drug use.
Dirty bedding, rubbish, pet waste, food scraps and discarded clothes continue to litter the site.
The sight of the camp has shocked overseas visitors and Flinders St traders say growing numbers of homeless sleepers on their doorsteps are causing a downturn in trade.
Lord Mayor Doyle said he was not tempted to look at stronger by-laws so police had clear powers to move people on when they don’t own an actual structure like a tent.
Victoria Police called on the City of Melbourne to strengthen local laws to stop people camping on the street, as officers fear they are powerless to stop the growing homelessness problem.
“I think the more important thing is to connect people to services, I don’t necessarily think a move on power is going to do that,” Cr Doyle said.
“Remember we’re trying to help people so I’d much rather be connecting them to Launch Housing for housing needs, or to the health system if it’s mental illness, or to drug and alcohol rehabilitation if that’s what’s needed or to employment opportunities.
“There’s no easy answer, it’s very complex.
“But I don’t think the answer is to demonise people who are homeless or to move people out of sight.”
Cr Doyle, who has returned from holiday early to personally handle the crisis, said stronger move on powers would only serve to shift the problem to other parts of the city.
“Remember we’ve done this already in Enterprize Park, in Treasury Gardens, at the Palace, at Elizabeth St, at City Square and now it’s Flinders St,” he said.
“These camps keep moving and what we have to do is keep up that activity to clean them up, ask the police to play their role, and look to the State Government for long-term housing solutions.
“We’re all in it together but we’ve got to co-ordinate those efforts so we’re actually making a difference to those people who are vulnerable.”
Police did have other powers to make arrests, Cr Doyle said.
“Obstruction is one of them, using drugs, aggressive or threatening behaviours — all of those can occasion an arrest,” Cr Doyle said.
“I resent (the accusation) the idea that we’re not doing anything, which is one of the accusations today (Thursday).
“Just last week we collected something like 130 kilos of waste from that camp and we’ll continue doing that this week as well.”
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