Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Monash, Port Phillip, Stonnington, and Boroondara councils plead to Vic Police Minister for more frontline cops

Seven city councils across Melbourne’s southeast have banded together to beg Police Minister Anthony Carbines for more frontline cops on their streets.

Seven councils across Melbourne’s southeast have penned an urgent joint letter to Victoria’s Police Minister requesting more frontline cops on local streets and in crime hotspots amid rising community fear.

The Mayors of Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Monash, Port Phillip, Stonnington, and Boroondara councils have banded together to deliver a rare joint message to the Allan government, requesting an increase in “frontline police resourcing in identified hotspots”, greater visibility and more support for Neighbourhood Watch and local crime prevention initiatives.

Seven councils across Melbourne’s southeast have penned an urgent joint letter to Victoria’s Police Minister requesting more frontline cops on local streets. Picture: Hamish Blair

With some councils reporting an increase in complaints about rough sleepers and local drug use, the Mayors said they also wanted to see more on-the-ground support for public housing residents and at-risk individuals living near retail, hospitality, and shopping precincts.

The letter comes off the back of a major multi-council meeting, hosted by Glen Eira City Council, which raised concerns about a rise in local crime and residents expressing that they no longer feel safe in their own communities.

Top issues included a rise in aggravated burglaries and youth-related crime, graffiti, public drug use, and anti-social behaviour, as well as antisemitic incidents and theft from local small businesses.

They also raised concerns about an increase in people rough sleeping, strained social cohesion in higher-density public housing areas and a shortage of support services.

“We are writing to you collectively as seven local governments in Melbourne’s south east — Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Monash, Port Phillip, Stonnington, and Boroondara — to raise urgent concerns around growing community safety issues and the need for increased police resourcing,” the letters reads.

Top issues included a rise in aggravated burglaries and youth-related crime, graffiti, public drug use, and anti-social behaviour. Picture: David Geraghty

“We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues further and explore a collective approach to these challenges.”

Latest crime statistics show the number of criminal incidents recorded across Melbourne’s south east metropolitan region jumped to 108,014 in 2024 – up from 92,149 in 2023.

The rate per 100,000 population – 6436 – was the highest recorded since 2016.

The figures also showed Port Phillip was in the top five most dangerous places in Victoria, with one of the highest criminal incident rates – up 15.5 per cent.

Shadow minister for police David Southwick said councils have come under pressure to respond to the crime crisis “because the Allan Labor Government has vacated the space”.

“We are witnessing a rise in aggravated burglaries, youth-related crime, and anti-social behaviour,” he said.

“Employing security guards for police work is a second-rate solution for a first-rate problem.

“Our communities deserve police officers with the powers to ensure their safety. The Government must step up and provide the 1100 police that were promised.”

A spokesperson for Mr Carbines, however, said the matter was for Victoria Police, noting the Minister, under law, cannot direct where police resources are deployed.

She said he would meet with Bayside Council soon to discuss their concerns around crime.

“We will continue to work with Victoria Police to address community concerns around crime and anti-social behaviour,” she added.