Where are the city safety officers, Lord Mayor? Traders slam CBD ‘slum’

Residents and workers in Melbourne’s CBD are calling on Lord Mayor Nick Reece to reveal when his promised City Safety Officers will be on the beat as camps of people sleeping rough grow.

CBD residents and workers are calling on Lord Mayor Nick Reece to deliver on his promise to put 30 City Safety Officers, wearing stab-proof vests, on the beat to prevent camps of people sleeping rough and reduce anti-social behaviour around Elizabeth St south.

Leicester House owners corporation chair and CBD safety advocate Paul Crapper said a group of people sleeping rough on Elizabeth St south had been left for several days, which was a huge concern for local residents.

“Camps like this, for four days or more, are an every week occurrence in Elizabeth St South, primarily in front of Woolworths, Liquorland, Coles, 7-Eleven and McDonalds – creating what is basically Melbourne’s slum,” he said.

“These camps contain people who are typically drunk and who abuse everyone walking past, which includes local residents, business owners, people transiting to work and of course visitors to Melbourne for such events as the Australian Open, Moomba, the Grand Prix and Easter.

“Council wants residents to believe they monitor the area daily, but I find that the only way the camps are removed is when I complain about the filth and anti-social behaviour.”

Mr Crapper, who stood next to Mr Reece when he announced that he would establish a unit of 30 City Safety Officers during last year’s election, said residents and workers deserved to know when they would start patrolling the streets.

“The Lord Mayor needs to clearly state to the community when he will deliver his pre-election promise to establish the unit of 30 City Safety Officers,” he said.

Mr Reece refused to answer the Herald Sun’s questions around when the 30 City Safety Officers will start patrolling the CBD.

Mr Reece has repeatedly refused to answer questions on when he will deliver on his pledge for City Safety Officers over recent months.

Instead, he pointed to the council hiring two security guards to protect council workers for a six-week trial.

“Our new security officers are working with our local law officers to help clean up our streets,” Mr Reece said.

“Already they have been involved with 117 interventions where they have helped stop anti-social behaviour, the consumption of alcohol and organised begging.”

A local retail manager, who did not wish to be named for fear the business may be targeted, said Mr Reece had not delivered on his promise to improve safety.

“The (Lord) Mayor said there would be security guards here 24/7 and they would stop the people on drugs and alcohol from causing trouble,” he said.

“Where are they? We need help now.”

Nick Reece has refused to answer the Herald Sun’s questions around when the 30 City Safety Officers will start patrolling the CBD. Picture: Jason Edwards

Salvation Army Major Brendan Nottle said the numbers of people sleeping rough had been mostly stable recently but their behaviour had become worse.

“We are seeing more aggressive behaviour on our streets here in Melbourne,” he said.

“I think that is probably due to the combination of complex mental health issues and addiction.

“It can be quite confronting for people to witness this sort of behaviour.”

Mr Nottle said he would like to see a mobile group of experts – including mental health professionals, GPs and housing workers – patrolling the CBD to help people get off the streets.