Suzan Delibasic walks through Melbourne streets after dark

Alcohol-fuelled violence, rough sleepers and fits of drug-induced psychosis. Saturday Herald Sun reporter Suzan Delibasic braved the city streets after dark with a Go-Pro — this is what happened.

It was just another Saturday night in Melbourne’s CBD when I ventured out to see what happens on our streets after dark.

Wearing a GoPro camera, I walked through the streets of Melbourne from 9pm and was immediately confronted by a man who appeared to be intoxicated on Elizabeth St.

The once-thriving shopping strip now consists of cheap takeaway food businesses, vape shops and convenience stores.

I could smell alcohol on his breath.

As sirens blared through one of the city’s key thoroughfares, I stumbled across a man lying motionless on a bench.

He appeared to be heavily drug-affected.

Turning on to Swanston St I was confronted by makeshift tents set up outside shops and businesses.

Suzan Delibasic takes a walk through the CBD at night.

Pedestrians step past a person asleep on Russell St. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A man sleeps rough on Swanston St. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Some of those sleeping rough occupied entrances, while others begged for food and cash.

At 10pm, I was walking up the steps to the State Library when I heard a commotion in the distance.

A group of intoxicated men were drinking cans of beer when a small altercation broke out between two of them.

“I warned you not to start me, you’re being racist,” one man shouts.

A man sleeps on a bench in Elizabeth Street. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A man settles in for the night on Degraves St. Picture: Supplied

In the distance another man lifted up his jacket while he brazenly injected into his stomach.

It was extremely confronting.

A couple nearby witnessed what was unfolding as the men continued to kick beer cans around and inject themselves in the bushes.

The frightened pair immediately pick up their shopping bags to walk away.

As I moved closer to the group, one of them admitted he’d had “a bit to drink” and asked me for a hug.

I declined.

It’s no wonder why women feel unsafe walking at night.

Shortly afterwards on Bourke St an erratic man, who also appeared to be substance affected, was targeting women with racial slurs.

A man appears drug-affected in Melbourne’s CBD.

Police detain a group of men on Degraves St. Picture: Supplied

A short distance away on Flinders St, a man with a menacing look on his face pointed scissors at passers-by at 11pm.

Just metres away from him, another man experiencing a drug psychosis began sticky taping glass bottles to himself and spraying the contents of deodorant cans on to the wall.

Two women who just got off the train refused to pass him, pivoting in a different direction.

Back on Elizabeth St at midnight, music blared from popular take away shops.

Inside McDonald’s, a woman slept at one of the tables, while another who appeared intoxicated sat next to her.

Staff were unphased by the sight.

I witnessed all of this unfold in just four hours of walking through the CBD- even with a security guard following closely behind me.

I can’t imagine what it’s like for traders trying to make a living.