‘Crisis point’ as bus mall becomes a crime hot spot, alderman warns

Drug dealing and physical assaults are on the rise at a suburban bus mall and skate park, with teenagers “randomly targeting defenceless and innocent victims”, an alderman says.

THE Rosny Park Bus Mall and nearby skate park need extra police attention because of a rise in anti-social behaviour, including assaults and drug dealing, a Clarence alderman says.

Brendan Blomeley will call for increased police resourcing in the area at Monday night’s council meeting.

Ten years ago, the Rosny Park Bus mall was acknowledged by local government, police and health support agencies as a “crime hot spot” marred by bullying, verbal abuse, threatening behaviour and street violence.

Tasmania Police and the Clarence City Council developed a strategy to tackle the problem, which included the installation of CCTV on buses and fixed cameras in the bus mall.

A smashed glass panel in one of the bus shelters in the Rosny Park bus mall.

But Ald Blomeley said in recent months he had been made aware of “deeply concerning incidences” of anti-social behaviour, including serious physical assault and drug dealing.

“In some incidences, the offenders are young teenagers, indifferent to authority and punishment, who roam Rosny Park randomly targeting defenceless and innocent victims,” Ald Blomeley said.

“From what I’m seeing and hearing, this is now at a crisis point and immediate action is needed.

“Three weeks ago, a 15-year-old student was walking through the bus mall towards Eastlands when he was set upon by another youth and ‘coward punched’ in the head.

“I’m informed that the young offender had been released from Ashley Youth Detention Centre the day before and was wearing a ‘knuckle duster’ when he landed the unprovoked punch.

“In speaking with the victim’s mother, this was a good boy going about his business hurting no one, who now, because of the senseless act of a young hoodlum, suffers not only the physical scars but the mental ones of anxiety and depression as well.”

Clarence City Council Alderman Brendan Blomeley at the Rosny Park Bus Mall. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmania Police said Bellerive Police would be increasing targeted patrols in all public spaces and retail areas to support public safety in the lead up to the busy festive season.

But Ald Blomeley said the current policing and public safety measures were not working.

“There is a need for increased police presence and visibility in these recognised youth crime ‘hot spots’, including real-time monitoring of CCTV cameras in the bus mall,” he said.

“There is also an obvious need for punishments to be a deterrent. It’s evident that these young offenders know their rights and, on account of their age, police are largely powerless to impose anything more than a warning.”