Man attacked in Melbourne’s CBD no longer feels safe in city he loved
Hit in the face twice in a random lunchtime attack in the CBD, Melbourne man Tom Winch is one of hundreds of CBD assault victims every year. He no longer feels safe and says the city is changing for the worse.
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I was standing in one of the busiest intersections in Melbourne yet I felt completely alone.
Dizzy and tasting blood in my mouth, I looked around for some kind of moral or physical support.
But all I got were judging glances.
Just seconds earlier my routine trip to 7-Eleven for lunch had been violently interrupted.
As I stepped onto the Flinders and Elizabeth street intersection a stranger’s face was suddenly millimetres from mine.
I could feel his breath. Where did he come from? He screamed at me, asking what my problem was and what I was looking at.
I didn’t answer, trying to ignore the unfortunate drug-addicted person in a rage. I tried to continue my walk back to work but he followed. Seething at me again: “What are you looking at?”
Then ... smack. My teeth rattled and I tasted blood.
Smack again. More blood and the feeling of broken teeth.
Dizziness set in and I began to stumble.
As soon as he’d appeared, he was gone. Why was I hit? Twice? What did he want and what did I do?
Still dazed and I tried to re-enter the 7-Eleven for help but was shown in no uncertain terms that despite being the victim of an assault, I wasn’t welcome.
My mind began racing. I need to sit, I’m going to faint. He’ll come back if you don’t keep walking.
It’s lunchtime on a Thursday. How did this happen? This isn’t the Melbourne I know and love.
I pulled myself together, lips bleeding and teeth aching, and made my way back to my office. Colleagues calmed me down and encouraged a call to the police.
Knowing not much could be done, I still contacted the Police Assistance Line and was put through to a city station.
With a very dismissive tone and the undeniable inflection that I was wasting time, I was told this has to be reported in person. That conversation was a sign of things to come.
I went to my local police station, the last place I wanted to be.
I wanted to shower and go to bed, even if it was only 3pm.
Within the first few minutes, I felt the same as I did on the phone.
I’m a timewaster. This is my fault.
The constable who met me had to check on how to take this kind of statement, telling me it’s usually done online or over the phone. What? But I was told … never mind. My mouth throbbing again, I feel sick.
Eventually, a now empathetic constable took my statement. I’d hear from them in the next few days, he said. It’s now a week later. I have possible nerve trauma to two teeth but I don’t have a response from police.
Where’s the report I was supposed to be emailed, the text message updates or CCTV footage?
Silence. At every point of this process I’ve been met with nothing but silence. From my fellow Melburnians, the 7-11, the police. After taking the step and following up myself on Friday, I was told the report is yet to be assigned to an officer.
When I asked the Melbourne City Council to see the CCTV of my attack I was told it could only be provided to me once a court date had been set.
Worse, it would be deleted if — and it seemed inevitable — 28 days expired without one.
I felt like the victim being victimised again.
I know I’m one of the very lucky ones who hasn’t suffered any life changing injuries.
But my heart and faith have been sunk in a system that doesn’t look after victims.
This isn’t about pointing fingers but calling for everyone to improve the processes and be kinder to each other.
In just one week I’ve gone from proudly waving the “I love Melbourne” flag to being left with a dampened spirit. Already I have a watchful eye during the day, have stopped walking to the gym before sunrise, plus a heavily deflated sense of community I thought we value so strongly.
If someone on that street corner had given me so much as a slight smile, if the shopkeeper had treated me as a person and not a maniac off the streets, if the constable on the Police Assistance Line had taken my statement as he should have, I would still love my Melbourne as much as the day I moved here six years ago.
THE CCTV FOOTAGE IS AVAILABLE
Investigations were continuing into the assault on Mr Winch, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said on Saturday.
A statement had been taken from him and CCTV footage would be reviewed.
Regarding Melbourne’s Safe City camera network, the spokesman said Victoria Police was aware footage was deleted after 28 days.
“The Safe City camera network complements the various boots-on-the ground operations that run in the CBD to provide a visible police response and detect and deter crime,’’ she said.
“It is regularly used to task jobs in real time across the CBD in anticipation of problems or to prevent issues such as public order or crime, to monitor the flow of people or provide a rapid response to any incidents.
“Any assault in the CBD is a concern for police and we are focused on holding offenders to account when incidents occur.”
Victims should phone triple-0 for an immediate response, the spokeswoman said. “Once a crime is reported to police we can commence an investigation and gather evidence such as witness statements and any relevant CCTV.
“When available, vision such as CCTV or dashcam footage forms only one part of a police investigation.”
A council spokesman said: “Specialist security contractors monitor the City of Melbourne’s network of CCTV cameras 24/7 to increase community safety.
“Any incidents captured by the cameras can be shared with police immediately,’’ he said.
“We encourage anyone who may have been the victim of a crime to report it to police as soon as possible.”
CCTV footage was provided by the City of Melbourne if requested by police or a relevant legal representative.
A person representing themselves in court could produce a court-authorised document. “The City of Melbourne will also take a copy of the footage provided and this is stored at State Archives for seven years,’’ the spokesman said.
A VICTIM A DAY ON AVERAGE
Criminal assaults in Melbourne’s CBD have increased in the last five years, amid concern from shop owners and visitors.
Assaults and related offences in the 3000 postcode have climbed 19 per cent since 2014, and by a third over the last decade.
In the year to September 2019, 1551 assaults were reported to police — averaging four a day. That figure was lower than each of the previous two years.
Salvation Army boss Major Brendan Nottle said his street teams regularly witnessed violence in hotspots including King St and the intersection of Russell and Lonsdale streets.
Alcohol and drug-fuelled violence was most prevalent on Friday and Saturday nights.
“An increasing level of drug use often leads to that erratic behaviour,” Major Nottle said. “When on drugs people can become quite aggressive. It is concerning.”
He said cheap ice at $40 a point, as well as outlawed synthetic drugs, led to “really heightened, erratic behaviour”.
King St was not as dangerous as it was a decade ago, but it “still has the potential to escalate”, Major Nottle said.
“These days the police response is pretty amazing, if something develops police are there immediately.”
Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said Melbourne’s CBD workers were often the target of physical violence.
He said a prominent telco said “they are one knife attack away from a death” and most staff were fearful of being assaulted.
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“This is not petty shoplifting, these are serious crimes, these criminals intend to cause harm,” Mr Zimmerman said.
Supt Dan Trimble said anyone who had been the victim of an assault should call 000 immediately for an immediate response.
“Any assault in the CBD is a concern for police and we are focused on holding offenders to account when incidents occur,” he said.
“Taking into account our growing population, assaults have decreased by 18 per cent in the same 12 month period,” he said.
Tom Winch is the Sunday Herald Sun and Herald Sun content promotions manager
We publish Mr Winch’s story today because it matters. It is not the story of just one man, it’s the story of our city and what is happening in its heart. We need to fix the CBD. From council to police, to the state government and all of us who love this city, together we need to have a good hard look at our city centre and strive as one to restore marvellous Melbourne’s shine.