‘Not safe’: Fifi rages, Melbourne on the brink

The radio host says it was time to “take back control” of the streets as Victorians face the biggest youth crime spike in years.

Radio host Fifi Box has raged at Melbourne’s troubling crime wave, saying the city was “not safe” and as she vowed people were “not copping it anymore”.

Box and co-host Brendan Fevola told their The Fox breakfast show on Thursday it was time for Melburnians to “take back control of our city and our state”.

They launched a petition to the Victorian parliament demanding bail reform for repeat offenders, which gained more than 40,000 signatures in 24 hours.

“Melbourne, Victoria are not feeling safe,” Box began on the program.

“We are the victims of repeat youth offenders.

“We are the most lenient with our bail laws when it comes to youth offenders.

“We’ve decided – too many people talking, not enough people doing.”

This month news.com.au has highlighted how previously safe suburbs had become crime “epicentres” and a government agency was pulling out of another described as “Disneyland for drug users”.

Victorians have regularly woken to reports of car thefts and home invasions in recent months, with youth crime at its highest levels since 2009.

The rate of youth offences rose 16.9 per cent in the past 12 months but crime data shows the number of offenders has remained stable – revealing a sharp rise in repeat criminals.

Former AFL star Fevola. Picture: Instagram

Broadcaster Box. Picture: Instagram

“There’s a group of around about 300 children and young people that commit these crimes, and they’re predominantly between the ages of 14 and 17,” Commander Mark Galliott told 7.30 this month.

“Of the 300 or so within that group, there’s a group of 20 that commit about 20 or 25 per cent of the total number of offences.”

The Victorian government in August backed out of plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 before passing new youth bail laws.

Chopper footage of fleeing offenders and arrests in major youth crime blitz in Melbourne.

Box told her listeners this week the changes were not enough and new reforms were needed.

She called for Victorians to sign the petition so politicians “will be compelled” to make further changes.

“It is honestly now people power. We take control back of our city and our state and we tell them ‘we’re not copping it anymore’,” the radio personality said.

“And ‘we’re not having repeat offenders break into our homes or commit crimes. We’re not having it’.”

News.com.au recently detailed a series of shocking incidents recently in the waterside suburb of St Kilda and other affluent areas in the city’s southeast.

They included the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old girl on Acland St, a man being attacked with a machete and another struck on the had with a bottle while on the tram.

Charlotte Frajman has run the pharmacy on Fitzroy St in the heart of St Kilda since 1990.

She told news.com.au crime was “the worst it’s been in 35 years”.

Ms Frajman, who has described the area as “like third world”, said tourists were afraid to visit the area because of anti-social behaviour.

The victim of a machete attack in St Kilda earlier this year.

Tom Elliot, host of 3AW’s morning program, described St Kilda month as Melbourne’s crime “epicentre”.

Around Victoria St in Richmond, near the city’s safe injecting room, a government agency has said the “ongoing safety situation” would see it leave the area in August.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission said concerns including assaults on staff had “strongly influenced” its decision to relocate to the CBD.

A letter sent by chief executive Annette Kimmitt also revealed some staff had also been distressed by anti-Semitic graffiti in the area.

“Several violent and distressing incidents have also been experienced by staff including physical assault, verbal abuse and racial epithets,” she wrote.

A man passes out after injecting heroin at the safe injecting room at Richmond. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

The medically supervised injecting room in North Richmond – which neighbours a primary school – has been highly controversial since it was made permanent in 2019.

City of Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly blasted the state government for “gaslighting” council and local residents about the suburb’s problems.

“It’s like Disneyland for drug users,” Cr Jolly told 3AW on Thursday.

“You can get there by train or tram, there’s plenty of people that will sell you the drugs, there’s plenty of nice houses in Abbotsford and North Richmond you can rob to get the money for the drugs, and there’s even a supervised injecting facility that you can shoot up in.

“It’s just disastrous for the locals.”

Premier Jacinta Allan says tougher laws are being explored. Picture: NewsWire/Valeriu Campan

Premier Jacinta Allan told Sunrise on Tuesday her government was working “right now” on ways to strengthen youth bail laws.

She was questioned after four teens were arrested for allegedly breaking into a home in Kew before standing over the residents as they slept.

Despite the incident, two of the boys were released on bail that same day.

“The experience … demonstrates why it’s unacceptable to me that too many Victorians don’t feel safe,” the Premier said.

“So that’s why we are looking at how we can strengthen our bail laws.”

She said it was important to acknowledge Victoria Police had been working to address the issue “but it’s absolutely clear to me that we need to do more.”