Richmond public housing residents slam needle disposal boxes as “invitation” to inject in towers

Distraught residents in Richmond who have to dodge junkies shooting up and shelter their kids from witnessing bloody needles and drugs deals, now fear a new initiative will be an “invitation” to junkies to inject in their building.

Needle disposal boxes have been installed in Richmond’s public housing flats, angering residents who claim it won’t stop rampant drug use and dealing.

The Herald Sun understands the yellow disposal boxes were installed in the stairwells of the four towers along Elizabeth St — just a few hundred metres from the supervised injecting room — between August 15 and 20.

Needle disposal boxes in the apartment towers. Picture: Supplied

One resident said that it was an “invitation” for people to shoot up inside the apartment towers.

“It is just ridiculous,” the resident said.

“Every building is suffering, the kids who live there are suffering.

“You can only imagine leaving your building and having to dodge people shooting up or pulling their pants down to have a sh--.

“That is what we are dealing.”

The resident told the Herald Sun that they had witnessed drug deals in common areas, and that Richmond’s car parks and gardens were “infested” with needles.

They also doubted that people would use the disposal boxes, saying that needles were often left strewn in the stairwell and street despite the needle exchange handing out sharps containers.

The boxes have been installed in four Richmond apartment towers. Picture: David Caird

The supervised injecting room is just a few hundred metres away. Picture: Supplied

“Shouldn’t that be a clue that this isn’t going to make a difference,” the resident said.

“This is an invitation for more drug use.

“It says to us that they are trying to get people off the streets … they’ve just invited them into our building, into our homes.”

A residents group, disbanded in 2009, has been re-established for those living in the housing estate.

The police association this week doubled down on claims crime had increased around the injecting room, after an officers’ survey released in May argued crime and drug use was up.

Police Minister Lisa Neville used Richmond-wide statistics that dismiss the claims, with drug offences and total crime having dropped in the six month after the injecting room opened.

But in an article dubbed “a dose of truth”, the union has revealed rising crime in the block immediately surrounding the injecting room — bordered by Church, Highett, Hoddle and Victoria streets.

Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt. Picture: AAP Image/Alex Murray

Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour increased 64 per cent from 2017-18 to 2018-19, robbery increased 53 per cent, crimes against the person was up 16 per cent and other crimes against the person jumped 62 per cent.

Deception offences increased 61 per cent but property damage was down 18 per cent and assault and related offences dropped 6 per cent.

The article attributed a 5 per cent drop in drug offences to an “arrest aversion policy” in the area of the injecting room.

“I stand by my members’ original views and we stand by the stats there,” union boss Wayne Gatt told 3AW.

“It shows them to be spot on.

“We are giving an exact reflection of what our members saw in that vicinity.”

RELATED:

SOLVE INJECTING CRISIS BY GIVING ADDICTS DRUGS: JOLLY

DRUG WORKER SHOOTS UP IN RICHMOND DRIVEWAY

RICHMOND RESIDENTS RAISE ‘GHETTO’ CONCERNS

Police patrols have stepped up in the area, alongside security that run 24-hour foot patrols.

More CCTV cameras and improved lighting have also been added.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman confirmed that the needle disposal containers were installed in all four high-rise buildings in Elizabeth and Cooke streets.

“The department supports every possible approach to help protect the community and minimise the harm associated with drug use,” he said.

“Syringe disposal containers are a proactive public health measure and have been installed at the estate for some years to encourage the safety of residents, their visitors and staff.”

[e-mail]

@moniquehore