CBD traders fearful of going to work due to drug-fuelled violence, anti-social behaviour

Traumatised traders and city workers are “fearful” of going to work as drug-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour play out on the streets. Watch the footage.

Traumatised traders and staff in Melbourne’s CBD are “fearful” of going to work as drug-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour play out on the streets every day and night.

Shocking CCTV footage obtained by the Herald Sun as part of a major investigation has revealed shopkeepers being spat on, screamed at and punched, leaving them fearful to go to work.

In one confronting incident an eftpos machine was thrown at a worker and in another a thief stole a cash register.

Business owners say they are fed-up with stepping around needles, drug users openly gathering on the streets to inject themselves with drugs and witnessing terrifying fights.

They are calling on the City of Melbourne, state government and police to urgently step in and clean up the city.

Cafe worker Swede Samusagadevan was left shaken after being attacked by a woman in a nearby alleyway. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

An analysis of the most recent crime statistics, released this week, show crime in the CBD is increasing back to pre-pandemic levels.

The Crime Statistics Agency data reveals police recorded 21,343 offences in the CBD in the year ending March 2024, compared to 19,612 incidents the previous year.

The data shows that non-family violence assaults have increased in the city in recent years, along with stalking and threatening behaviour.

Criminal damage has skyrocketed, with the highest number of offences recorded in almost a decade.

The footage, some of which covers the past week, has sparked calls for a stronger police presence to improve safety in the area.

Melbourne cafe owner Marc Laucher. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Police on Friday said they would launch an operation in response to aggressive behaviour towards retail and supermarket workers in the city next month.

Confronting CCTV from a popular cafe on Elizabeth St shows a man hurling homophobic slurs at workers and then vigorously throwing an eftpos machine in their direction, which narrowly misses them.

Swedha Samusagadevan, who has worked on Elizabeth St for almost a year, said she was left “shaken” and “traumatised” after being attacked by a woman in a nearby alleyway.

“There was a recent incident where I went out to throw cardboards in the bin and this woman pulled my hair and hit me in the face,” Ms Samusagadevan said.

“As of now, I don’t think it’s safe to work here.

“I saw another incident this week where a drug user hit another man on his head.

“There are people who ask for free pizza, they yell and throw stuff at us, it’s terrifying.”

A man tries to take a coffee machine from a business in Elizabeth St.

People congregate outside the State Library. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

In other footage, a female cafe worker is left terrified after a man erratically pushes items off the counter in her direction when she refuses to give him a free slice of pizza.

Meanwhile on Flinders St, CCTV shows a vandal breaking into a restaurant and brazenly walking out carrying a cash register.

Nearby on Degraves St, a group of drug users, who appeared to be sorting through stolen goods, threatened to “knock” a worker’s head and “hurt them” when they tried to put out their bins at the end of their shift.

Police detain several men in Degraves St. Picture: Supplied

Operation Stand, a dedicated operation, will be launched next month in Melbourne’s CBD and the City of Yarra.

Police will increase patrols and target thieves who are threatening staff.

The operation will also streamline communications between workers and police to allow a quicker response to incidents.

Dimple, who owns a restaurant on Flinders St, said her business had been targeted by thieves in March.

“I have witnessed break-ins and my staff sometimes feel unsafe putting the bins out because there are drug users outside injecting themselves,” she said.

“The boarding outside businesses along Flinders St during construction has also been a problem because people causing trouble hide behind it and sometimes inject drugs.”

The Herald Sun was also shown footage of a retail worker being punched by another man last week.

A man pushes items off the bain marie in anger at a fast food business in Elizabeth Street.

The worker, who was also spat on, said he was left “terrified” after the incident.

A business owner, who owns take away outlets on Swanston and Elizabeth streets, said one of his staff members had a chair thrown at him in the early hours Sunday morning last week.

“Someone walked past and threw a chair which hit one of our workers, he was quite shaken and we immediately reported this incident to police,” he said.

“We’ve also had incidents where someone has picked up a drink or item from the counter and then thrown it at the next shop.

“Our staff have been abused on multiple occasions … we have had to improve our security plan including bringing in our furniture before midnight to prevent future incidents.”

Johnny Sandish, who owns Xpressomondo on Degraves St, said crime in Melbourne’s CBD was becoming worse.

“We need more protection and more police on the ground to help us,” Mr Sandish said.

A man sleeps rough on Swanston St. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

It comes almost six months after the City of Melbourne held a roundtable meeting, which included the council, police, state government, traders, residents and transport operators to discuss options to clean up the street such as increased policing, more CCTV and more homeless support.

Acting Superintendent Brett Kahan CBD Divisional Commander said hundreds of police patrolled the city every day.

“Every day, we task officers to patrol Flinders and Elizabeth streets to deter anti-social behaviour and engage with store owners to ensure they feel supported,” Acting Supt Kahan said.

A person runs away with a cash register drawer from a business in Flinders St. Picture: Supplied

“We take the safety of store workers extremely seriously. In fact, we will soon be launching a dedicated operation to target aggressive behaviour towards retail workers.”

“We know a proportion of the incidents referenced involve vulnerable community members, which is why we partner daily with key stakeholders to link those experiencing homelessness to essential support services.

“Improving the amenity of the CBD is the shared responsibility of traders, residents, police, council, and support services.”

A man settles in for the night on Degraves St. Picture: Supplied

Another rough sleeper on Russell St. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the city faced a housing and homelessness crisis, which was a situation “mirrored across Australia and the world”.

“This crisis needs a multi-level response across governments and agencies. Council is doing its part through projects such as Make Room, to provide long-term transitional housing for rough sleepers,” Cr Capp said.

She said the council was working with police to solve issues but it was clear there was a gap in mental health outreach services.

“We’ve seen improvements in cleanliness and behaviour since we convened the Elizabeth Street South roundtable.

A Victorian government spokesperson said its number one priority was community safety.

“Drug use is a complex matter and must be dealt with sensitively and comprehensively. It’s why as part of our $95 million Statewide Action Plan, in the CBD we’re delivering more outreach services and a new community health hub to connect people with the right support services.”