Homelessness crisis: D-Day at Flinders Street Station camp
A POLICE officer was punched in the back of the head and others assaulted as they came under attack from beggars and serial protesters while clearing the Flinders St camp.
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POLICE officer was punched in the back of the head and others assaulted as they came under attack from beggars and serial protesters while clearing the Flinders St camp.
Five people were arrested after violence broke out when protesters confronted police moving on people sleeping rough outside Flinders St Station.
Police said three officers were injured during the confrontation, including one who was punched to the head by a woman in the crowd.
The male officer was standing in line stopping people from advancing when, it’s alleged, the woman struck him from behind.
Officers were also rammed by a man in a mobility scooter.
A Channel Nine cameraman and another member of the media were also allegedly assaulted.
One person is expected to be charged after throwing a bottle at police while two others will be charged for resisting members — these people were not homeless.
Two other people arrested were believed to have been homeless.
Police said one rough sleeper was arrested for being drunk.
As police were taking him into custody, a woman — who may have been staying at the homeless camp — intervened and was then arrested herself.
She is expected to be charged with hinder and assault police after three members were injured.
Acting Commander North West Metro Stuart Bateson said the majority of the people who turned violent were not genuine homeless people but protesters who regularly turn up and antagonise police.
“They’re our regular starters at any far-left protest,” Mr 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.”
Police officers had been negotiating with the rough sleepers for about two weeks, he said, asking them to move on so refurbishment works could begin on the iconic station.
Officers turned out about 10.30am today and most rough sleepers moved on peacefully.
Trouble began when a crowd of protesters arrived, Mr Bateson said.
“We wanted to give people every opportunity to leave,” he said.
“Unfortunately when we moved in we were met with resistance from a small group of protesters.”
About 75 police, including the Public Order Response Team, lined Flinders St as protesters began shouting abuse.
“This work has been planned for some time,” Mr Bateson said.
“For this work to be carried out safely we needed to clear out all of the obstructions.”
Some homeless people evicted from the makeshift camp have vowed to return “in two days”.
Protesters stole scaffolding intended to barricade the site for construction works, and pulled it into the middle of Flinders St while more than 200 people watched on.
The cost of the operation was unavailable, but police said it had involved “significant” resources.
“As police we’d much rather be doing something else,” Mr Bateson said.
There were 75 officers deployed today and similar numbers some days during recent weeks.
Police will continue patrolling the area tonight and in coming days.
Mr Bateson reiterated police had the power to move people on if they obstructed the footpath.
“Make no mistake, we have not solved the homeless issue,” Mr Bateson said.
Police would continue working with the City of Melbourne and social services, while rough sleepers have been offered temporary accommodation.
Flinders St has reopened to traffic after remaining protesters moved to the tram stop.
WARNING: LANGUAGE MAY OFFEND
Earlier, police warned those at the site — homeless people, activists and reporters — they could be charged with obstructing the footpath if they didn't move on.
Pedestrians, including young children, had been forced to walk on the road because of the protest.
LANGUAGE WARNING
Tempers beginning to boil over at the homeless camp @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/QsxY50wIrM
— Bridget Davies (@bridget_davies) February 1, 2017
A large group of activists — many who were also present at the Bendigo St squatters site in Collingwood — arrived at Flinders St Station this morning, along with a strong police presence.
Some rough sleepers warned they would resist any efforts by council and police to move them on. They put up signs which read, “Sleeping rough is not a crime”.
Posting on social media yesterday, Homeless Persons Union Victoria member Kelly issued a rallying call.
“Legal observers, members of the community, street medics, we encourage you all to come and bear witness to the removal of those on Flinders St to help the people there.”
One homeless woman, who declined to reveal her name, said many still struggled to find a home despite a government announcement of $10 million to fix the city’s homeless crisis.
“Only 40 transitional houses have been announced … but I’m told there are 70 people with their names down on the list at Flinders St,” she said.
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