Fears as St Kilda’s famed Acland St is overrun with criminals, drug users

The bayside suburb has a chequered past, but St Kilda locals and traders say drug use and crime in the area is only getting worse.

Traders in St Kilda fear one of its most popular precincts has become overrun with crime and anti-social behaviour, with drug users openly injecting in front of children.

It comes amid revelations that ongoing drug use and anti-social behaviour are still plaguing Richmond, close to the suburb’s controversial injecting room.

A man and woman were also seen openly injecting drugs on Southbank Boulevard earlier this month, while children played at a gaming installation just meters away.

When the Herald Sun visited Acland St, two male drug users injected themselves in a busy alleyway ­behind Woolworths.

A mother who was walking with her young daughter was visibly shocked as she walked past while they injected.

A man openly uses drugs at a common thoroughfare between Acland St and Woolworths in St Kilda. Picture: Jason Edwards

St Kilda is in need of a serious clean-up, according to Liberal MP James Newbury. Picture: Jason Edwards

The area is becoming overrun with crime and anti-social behaviour. Picture: Jason Edwards

A drug dealer riding a scooter pounced on the users in the alleyway, passing a mini zip-lock bag containing a white substance to one of the men in exchange for cash.

A trader, who has worked in Acland St for more than five years, said drug use was “getting worse” in the area.

“There are men who are clearly on drugs coming into our shop and stealing items. I have seen them blatantly inject in the street,” he said.

“Our customers are telling us that they don’t like bringing their families and kids down here. I would like to see more police around because it does make a real difference when they are present.”

The Herald Sun saw more than 10 vacant or boarded-up shops on Acland St and nearby Fitzroy St, with graffiti scrawled on some shopfronts.

Young children are being exposed to drug dealers and users on the famous Acland St strip. Picture: Jason Edwards

Several people living with homelessness were begging for money and lying on mattresses outside busy restaurants.

City of Port Phillip councillor Andrew Bond said the council had written to Police Minister Lisa Neville raising concerns about safety in St Kilda’s streets.

“The council requested ­additional police resources to deal with these issues in St Kilda; unfortunately, the council’s concerns were fobbed off by minister Neville and the state government, who don’t seem to care about community safety,” Mr Bond said.

“It is confronting for our traders and our residents, just as it is for traders and residents in the CBD and in Richmond. The state government needs to step up and provide more police to deal with these safety concerns.”

Two drug users just metres from young children outside the St Kilda supermarket. Picture: Jason Edwards

Acland St traders fear nearby drug use will deter customers from the shopping strip. Picture: Jason Edwards

Liberal MP James Newbury said the suburb was another Melbourne “hotbed” for drugs, drinking and violence. “The community keeps telling me that they are sick of it,” he said.

“They deserve better. St Kilda needs a serious clean-up.”

Port Phillip Mayor Marcus Pearl said council officers continued to support police.

Port Phillip local area commander Inspector Jacki Kline said: “St Kilda police run a dedicated and ongoing operation targeting street-level drug dealers who seek to profit off the most vulnerable members of our local community.

“As part of Operation Spartan, police are regularly ­deploying intelligence-led patrols throughout St Kilda to not only catch street level dealers in the act and arrest them, but also ensure the local community and visitors to the area feel safe.

A man at the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders streets in Melbourne’s CBD.

A man openly injects drugs into his leg just behind Victoria Street, Richmond. Picture: Jason Edwards

A man and a woman openly inject drugs in Southbank. Picture: Jason Edwards

“On top of our foot patrols, we will continue to make the environment for dealers as hostile and difficult as possible, with our team of detectives regularly executing search warrants on known offenders and persons of interest.”

A state government spokeswoman said: “Anti-social ­behaviour and criminal ­activity is unacceptable no matter where you are, and anyone participating in this type of conduct will be held to account by police.

“We’ve invested a record $3.8bn in Victoria Police to keep Victorians and visitors safe, including in St Kilda.

“Since 2016 the Southern Metro Region, Division 1, which includes St Kilda, has received 51 additional police officers.”