Flinders St homeless camp cleared, rough sleepers move to other parts of CBD

UPDATE: ROUGH sleepers moved from Flinders St amid violent scenes have set up at St Paul’s Cathedral, with the Herald Sun witnessing a man smoking what appears to be a bong as people walk by.

• Serial protesters behind violent camp scenes

• As it happened: Violent scenes as people moved on from Flinders St homeless camp

• Tensions boil over at homeless camp
• A day at the Flinders St homeless camp

A POLICE officer was punched in the back of the head and others were assaulted as they came under attack from beggars and serial protesters while clearing the Flinders St camp.

Dozens of uniformed police and public order response team officers moved in yesterday to ­dismantle the makeshift camp, which has blighted Flinders St station for weeks.

But many of the homeless moved on had already set up camp in other spots around the city last night, including a group smoking what appeared to be a bong beside St Paul’s Cathedral.

Police say rough sleepers who have relocated to other locations in Melbourne’s CBD will not be moved on overnight.

A man smokes what appears to be a bong on the grass outside St Paul’s Cathedral. Picture: Mark Stewart

Five people were arrested during the afternoon police operation as a handful of rough sleepers, joined by dozens of chanting, swearing troublemakers, clashed with officers.

The block between Swanston and Elizabeth streets was closed, halting trams, as protesters tried to stop workers erecting barriers for a station refurbishment planned months ago.

Police moved in after warning protesters they could be charged with ­obstructing the footpath. While more than 200 people looked on, some protesters tore down yellow barricades set up alongside the station.

Others tried to bait police, calling them “pigs”. Officers were also rammed by a disabled man on a mobility scooter.

A man on a mobility scooter was seen driving into police. Picture: Alex Coppel.

He stood from his chair and was seen in an altercation with officers. Picture: Alex Coppel

Crowds gathered at Flinders St. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Rough sleepers have been moved on from Flinders Street. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A female rough sleeper tries to stop police arresting a man. Picture: Nicole Garmston

She was then arrested. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Many of the protesters had been involved in demonstrations over the removal of squatters from East West Link-acquired homes in Collingwood.

Acting Commander Stuart Bateson said: “These are the people we see on the lines regularly. These are the people we see assaulting our members, yelling at our members, spitting on our members.”

Accommodation had been offered to all those at the homeless camp.

City and transport authorities had given ample warning to those camping out that the area would have to be cleared for the station renovations.

Cdr Bateson said five people were arrested, two for assaulting police and one for throwing an object at an officer.

Only one person, arrested for being drunk in a public place, was believed to be genuinely homeless. The four others were protesters.

Many of the protesters had been involved in demonstrations over the removal of squatters from East West Link-acquired homes in Collingwood.

As uniformed and public order response team police moved in, one officer was punched in the back of the head by a woman.

Other members suffered minor scratches and bruises.

Police take action to remove people squatting outside Flinders Street Station. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Homeless people at Flinders St Station. Picture: Alex Coppel.

A man is arrested. Picture: Alex Coppel.

A woman lies down on Flinders St. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Cdr Bateson said police had been negotiating with rough sleepers for about two weeks and most of those at the station had moved on peacefully.

Trouble began when a crowd of protesters arrived.

Despite the station refurbishment, some of the homeless who camped on Flinders St vowed to be “back in two days”.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the City of Melbourne and Victoria Police had been absolutely honest in dealing with the homeless and the protesters at Flinders St.

“It has always been the case that health and housing services have been made available to people who wish to take up those opportunities,” he said.

“But it was also always the case that (yesterday) was not about homelessness, but about the plans for the renovation of Flinders St station and the safety of those remaining on the footpath.

“The fact that this has descended into an assault on police is completely unacceptable, and I hope now that the full measure of the law is ­applied to those who have ­assaulted Victoria Police.”

— with Bridget Davies and Cassie Zervos

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@JMasanauskas