Our Crime And Safety Crisis – Are We At A Tipping Point?

Headlines

 

  • A critical element is the shortage of police officers – there are a huge number of job vacancies, especially in the City of Port Phillip

 

  • Our Council is part of the crime and safety solution and it can do much more

 

  • Locals avoiding an increasingly unsafe Bay Street is simply not okay

 

  • In recent months there has been a very public breakdown in trust between local police and our local Council – safety forum cancelled

 

  • Our Council’s own conduct with regard to respecting the police’s expertise regarding safety is a cause for concern

 

  • Our Council’s approach to community safety is best described as complacent

 

  • A fresh collaborative approach is critical going forward – Police, Council and the Community (the latter the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle today)

 

  • I am under no illusion, the City of Port Phillip and Port Melbourne face serious social, structural and governance issues related to crime and safety

 

  • We have a rapidly escalating safety crisis in Port Melbourne (and other Wards). If elected, I will seek in the first two months, the following ‘no brainers’:


  1. Fund investment in modern CCTV across a wider territory.
  2. Hire on the ground in community eyes and ears – Professional security on a temporary basis till additional police office resourcing is addressed. Private security to observe / capture surveillance – to help stem the tide.
  3. Strengthen ‘move on’ laws.
  4. Community representatives join a new 3-way forum (Police / Council / Community).
  5. Identify how to place more police on the footpath everyday – today.

 

Five doable action points funded by reducing current Town Hall waste.

 

The Garbage Debacle Blog Post Image

 

 

 


Overview

This blog is a deeply personal one. It breaks my heart to witness what is unfolding. Especially because the 5yo girl assaulted in Acland Street last week is the daughter of one of the community warriors that I have worked closely with. 

This ‘final straw’ compelled me to write to Premier Jacinta Allan MP on Friday. Please see a copy of the email as exhibit 1.

Click here to view all crime and safety exhibits.

This document is lengthy. Such is the seriousness of the issues. It is somewhat an expose, a warts ‘n’ all disclosure designed to leave the reader in no doubt as to the realities.

I do not profess to be an expert in this area. Nevertheless, some basic commonsense can go a long way. My wish is that by sharing what I do know it may help inform residents. Implementing sustainable change starts with awareness – we cannot fix what we don’t know. Especially where the change requires many parties to come to the table including residents. The current realities are ugly.

There is possibly much ‘stuff’ you are not aware of.  For example, see exhibit 5, the Herald Sun July 2024 article titled:

Community slams City of Port Phillip Council over contentious public seating proposalHerald Sun, 17 July 2024

Exhibit 2 maps the increasing media coverage of St Kilda’s woes over the past two years.  You can see the trend. Last week it was Bay Street hosting TV cameras.


Image - Hitting Rock Bottom

Ideas And Options

This blog scratches the surface. It is a challenge that requires all elements of society to work together. I believe the problem would benefit from including residents, for example, introduction of neighbourhood watch schemes – looking out for each other – and a permanent seat at the table alongside police and our local Council. Collectively, we are community.  Police are real people and live in our community (unlike any of the Council’s executive leadership team).            

I declare upfront that I am old school. I am a supporter of the police and I believe that police physically located on the ground in each community walking the streets is critical. I have said similar in my 200 word (or less) electoral commission bio – see exhibit 3. Technology such as CCTV also has a critical role to play.

I do believe in ‘move along’ local laws.  Without such laws it undermines the police’s ability to police. I do not understand why residents should have to accept people creating general anti-social chaos on our streets and that somehow that is okay.   

How does acceptance of elements of our community being in a constant state of general unease (and fear) reconcile with being all caring, all loving community minded Councillors? The actions do not match the words.   Pass the pub test?

More relevant, and yes much more hard work, is embracing troubled souls who need co-ordinated support. Not ongoing abdication by elected representatives. 

Our Council is treading a very fine legal line given its legal duty of care to local residents. Tackle the issues head on. This will reduce the amount of time and money the Council spends responding to irate residents.

Background

Personal Research

Over the past 12 months I have worked closely with locals in St Kilda who are intimate with and deeply committed to tackling the issue of rising crime. I call these committed locals ‘community warriors’. Born and bred St Kilda locals. I have learned much about a growing underbelly that is centred around drug activity.

Earlier this year I also commissioned my own professional undercover surveillance to better understand the drug dynamics in St Kilda, a report titled:

          “Surveillance Investigation – Drug Supply, St Kilda” RIVICA, 10 May 2024

To avoid compromising related surveillance work, only the front cover of the report is shown here. See exhibit 4.

In addition, I have had meetings with senior police officers. I have also witnessed our councillors in action and how our Council approaches the issue of community safety. The insights shocked me. The following media headline (exhibit 6) published on Friday did not surprise me. 

‘Acland St traders fear ‘someone will get killed’ as crime and violence continue to escalate’ Herald Sun, 20 September 2024


In This Together Image

In This Together

At the Council meeting held on 17 July 2024 and referenced in the prior Herald Sun article, exhibit 5, I personally stated the following:

I frequent St Kilda daily and there is no healthy St Kilda without a healthy Fitzroy Street. St Kilda is the centre of the municipality. Police resources are finite. St Kilda’s problem is Middle Park’s problem, Elwood’s problem, South Melbourne’s problem. The challenge requires a collaborative and sustained approach, with joint ownership of the issue – council, police, other support agencies and the community.

I would add to this, Bay Street is the City of Port Phillip’s problem. It is St Kilda’s problem. Alma’s problem, Balaclava’s problem. We share across the municipality scarce police resource.

This Week’s Alleged Attempted Murder

This week’s alleged attempted murder in Bay Street is the ‘enough is enough’ moment (exhibit 6.1).

CTC Port Melbourne tobacconist ‘recovering well’ in hospital after stabbingHerald Sun, 19 September 2024

Police Vacancies

The Stark Reality

Victoria police employ around 16,000 people. There is a vacancy rate of circa 5% (800 officers). See attached as exhibits 7 and 8 the following articles:

Police recruitment crisis putting officers and community ‘at risk’’ ABC News, 17 May 2023
‘Mass departures and recruitment issues a major challenge for Victoria Police command’’ Herald Sun, 6 January 2023

However, the City of Port Phillip has a 20% vacancy rate. We should have 150 officers employed. We only have 120 officers. Seventy are based at St Kilda police station and fifty operate out of South Melbourne. Those missing 30 officers, 3 per Council Ward, would make a world of difference to our lived experiences. It is not great for the existing 120 police officers either.

Outside of other causal factors, and there are many, both primary and secondary, I believe this shortage in police manpower is a major causal factor for the escalating crime locally.

Bottom line – we get more of what we tolerate (that which we don’t apprehend). If an element of our society knows it can get away with it, word spreads. Criminals become more brazen. Just see Bay Street, Acland Steet, Fitzroy Street, et al.

Just writing this blog comes with some downside risk. However, I figure hardened criminals already know the truth. Time for residents to take back ownership of their community, including Port Melbourne.

Today the police do not respond to all reported crimes – a fact. Not surprisingly, residents have stopped reporting crime. Hence the crime statistics are misleading, especially with regard to ‘everyday crime’. Criminal activity previously considered serious by ordinary folk.

Spring Street Effect

The causal factors for police vacancies are said to include Covid, weakened bail laws and sentencing. Given renewed efforts by the police to recruit new officers, it appears the State Government is not yet on top of the challenge.

At the risk of offending Spring Street (probably too late for that) I believe the politisation of the police force by Dan Andrews – deploying his mates into police senior ranks – is a factor. The result – an organisational cancer of sorts. It started even before Dan Andrews got elected Premier. See attached article this week on the alleged cover up involving Dan Andrews and the police in 2013. See attached article as exhibit 9 titled:

‘Review concludes police investigation was ‘deeply flawed’, ‘unfounded’ and ‘contrary to available evidence’’ Herald Sun, 17 September 2024

It must be hard for police on the beat, dealing with serious violence, to look up and see / sense what is going on above and still keep going when down 20% on manpower. The Herald Sun tackled this thorny political / police / judiciary governance issue this week – see exhibit 10.

Writing this blog does not fill my heart with joy. However, if as residents we are to be part of the solution, and to prevent community in-fighting, which I sense is a real risk based on Port Melbourne residents’ understandable reaction to this week’s events, then mutual awareness is key. Police / Council / Community. We are all in this together.

Our Council

An Illustrative Example

Our Council is integral to the solution. A team effort is required.

However, I have witnessed first-hand just in the last three months:

  • A Councillor (a Liberal party member) present an incomplete set of words to Council, namely the police’s position with regard to proposed seating in St Kilda linked to the issue of acute and escalating anti-social behaviour on Fitzroy Street.
  • Three other local Councillors (2 Labour / 1 Green) also put their hands up in opposition to the police’s advice on the same issue (police advice – no public seating in the hot spots on Fitzroy Street).


One of those very same three councillors at the same council meeting (and who is seeking re-election) then pointed the finger at the police for the issues on Fitzroy Street. A senior Councillor puts two fingers up to the police’s recommendations and then points the other 3 fingers at the very same police for the resulting crime problems – go figure!!

https://webcast.portphillip.vic.gov.au/archive/video24-0717.php

See agenda item 14.1, from 2 hours:11 minutes onwards.

In summary, I believe our Council has an organisational cultural problem with regard to community safety. The Council lacks true empathy and ownership for its part of the challenge.

This is another key reason why I am running for Council.

Truth Image

The Supporting Evidence

The following section illustrates why I believe the Council is on the wrong track with regard to community safety. This includes examining Victoria Police’s stated written position on the hot safety issue referenced above and contrasts the police’s words with another version of the police’s words that a Councillor included in a Council motion.

I attach the following documents issued by Victoria Police:

  • An email from the police dated 1 July 2024 – They wanted no additional public seating in Fitzroy Street. See exhibit 11.
“We do not support the installation of any additional seating on Fitzroy Street”

The above position was reconfirmed in a second email sent by the police three days later on 4 July 2024 – see exhibit 12.

  • An email from the police provided to myself on 23 July 2024 – The police’s ‘worst case’ position, as communicated to the Council ahead of the Council meeting, was that seating must be removed from outside a known hot spot – seating outside a chemist. See exhibit 13.

    I must stress however that I oppose on behalf of Victoria Police, the installation of new seating infrastructure specifically outside 77 Fitzroy Street…”

    The existing seating outside 77 Fitzroy Street (commonly referred to as ‘mushroom seats’) is viewed by Victoria Police as highly problematic in the context of existing social and public order challenges at that location.”

    On that basis I respectfully request that council removes the existing seating as a matter of priority and delays until a further review the replacement of same.
    Victoria Police


Victoria Police also state in the same email:

I understand that this [the above text] was also published in the recent council motion and is on the public record.” – Victoria Police

This was not quite the case.

Compare the wording above and the same contained in the attached emails from Victoria Police with police words recorded in the Council motion tabled by Councillor Bond in July this year – exhibit 14. See page numbered 185, sub-section titled ‘Police consultation’. The police words Cr Bond included are repeated below in full:

“(However) I oppose on behalf of Victoria Police, the installation of new seating infrastructure specifically outside 77 Fitzroy Street…..”

Critical elements of the police’s advice, the words shaded in grey above, were not contained in Councillor Bond’s motion. Why?

Why also was this omission not picked up by other Councillors or senior Council Officers?

Also keep in mind the police’s true desire was NO additional public seating on Fitzroy Street whatsoever.

In addition to the police’s concerns, more than 20 traders on Fitzroy Street signed individual statements confirming they were never consulted by the Council. These statements were collected in just two days by concerned locals.

Furthermore, ahead of the Council vote, all nine Councillors received a letter from the lawyer representing the owner of the chemist – I attach a copy of the lawyer’s letter. See exhibit 16. The letter raises governance concerns.

Resistance To Advice

Too loud Image

Against the recommendation of Council Officers, against the urgings of Victoria Police in the strongest possible terms, many ‘in the dark’ local traders and a legal threat, Councillor Bond sought to place fresh seating right outside the chemist, a known hot spot for violent convicted criminals. Last minute unilateral changes not supported by evidence. Why?

The Cr Bond motion was in effect backed by a core minority of councillors. See exhibit 15. Those very same councillors, save Cr Bond, are seeking re-election at October’s election – in Elwood, Montague and St Kilda Wards.

This unusual approach to governance and community safety, accommodated by certain Councillors (and Officers), leads to further problems down the line. It is deeply troubling with regard to the culture of the Council.

Read on.

Council Vs Police

Two weeks after the above Fitzroy Street seating Council vote and one week after learning their words had not been fully incorporated, Victoria police decided not to attend a community safety forum co-hosted with our local council. Are these set of facts in any way connected?

Our Council reacted with a terse PR statement. See exhibit 17. Each party was pointing the finger at the other in public as captured in local media – see exhibit 18.

“Police snub community safety meeting” Twisk, 4 August 2024

Our Council appears unwilling to take any ownership for its part in the relationship breakdown with police. Omitting police’s words, a core group of councillors raising their hands in opposition to the police’s advice and then pointing the blame finger in a very public manner at the police. None of this helps build trust or resolve the community’s issues. The police are human as well.

Broken Truth Image

Council Owned CCTV

A simple example of our Council’s lack of appetite for full engagement on community safety is the woeful state of CCTV currently installed in St Kilda.

I attach two emails:

  • One to the Mayor. CCTV not working in Fitzroy Street. 2 August 2024. See exhibit 19.
  • CCTV not working properly in Acland Street. This week. 18 September 2024. See exhibit 20.


I understand the CCTV installed was done on the cheap and the tender process was itself questionable. Supposedly new CCTV is due to be installed. When?

In the grand scheme of things, given the Council spends $250m a year all up, decent CCTV would form only a tiny fraction of the total Council annual budget. Again, I believe there are big efficiency improvements to be had at Town Hall that could readily fund significantly upgraded CCTV across the entire municipality including Bay Street.

The issue is not necessarily the spend on external services per se. It is the bloated and ineffective Town Hall overhead cost to shuffle ever increasing amounts of paper.

In contrast to our Council, I am advised that the CBD has a very sophisticated approach to the adoption of CCTV.

This important part of the overall solution to escalating anti-social crime is readily available to us.

Closing Comments

Unless our Council is turned upside down we can expect matters to get worse.

Yes, the State Government also has a major role to play, the biggest part.

Our Councillors conduct and decision making needs to be of a standard that it raises the bar for all and puts the onus on the police and the State to keep their side of the bargain. We must focus on that which we can control – local laws, CCTV etc., and play our part both in substance and spirit to joint problem solving. Current weekly Council meetings with police do not appear to be working.

I am not averse to reducing the bloated headcount at Town Hall in order to help fund improved police salaries if that is what it takes to fill the 30 local police vacancies – and put them on the ground in community. Whatever it takes.

For example:

An extra $30k in salary / per person to attract 30 police officers, cost = $1m

Equal to 8 City of Port Phillip staff, less than 1% of the Council’s headcount

Some might call it ‘cost shifting’ (from the State’s responsibility). I call it a practical no cost solution to a non-negotiable community critical issue that is at a crisis point.

I recognise there are other aspects to any solution. Above is to highlight that on a cost / benefit basis there are potential solutions in front of us.

The true cost of allowing crime to escalate further is immeasurable and in ways that cannot readily be calculated.

Prevention is better than cure.

Different

If Elected, I Will Seek To:

  • Adopt a strategic approach (by end of month 4) – That does not mean endless report writing. Police, Council, Community – Aligned / Agreed / Clear – and resourced. Community come inside the tent in a recognised manner. Tribes are effective at keeping their own honest.
  • Number one strategic priority – How to fund / recruit more police officers / deploy them ‘in community’ (subject to the above strategic alignment). The assumption, which may be wrong, is that greater financial rewards are required. If not money, what will it take to fill the void? A 20% vacancy rate is a huge number.
  • Near-term no-brainers (now, first 2 months):
    1. Fund investment in modern CCTV across a wider territory.
    2. Hire on the ground in community eyes and ears (professional security on a temporary basis till police office resourcing addressed, to observe / capture surveillance) – to help stem the tide.
    3. Strengthen ‘move on’ laws.
    4. Community representatives join a new 3-way forum (Police / Council / Community).
    5. Identify how to place more police on the footpath every day – today.

      Five doable action points funded by reducing current Town Hall waste.


Note:
On the topic of E-scooters, law and order, crime and safety. I attach a copy of my position (yes, but much greater checks and controls are required). See attached exhibit 21. Melbourne CBD subsequently took the decision last month to ban e-scooters with immediate effect.

At the start of this article, I shared that I do not profess to be an expert. I am open to whatever works, whatever it will take. I am willing to invest the time and energy to learn, to be part of a different outcome. A safe Port Melbourne community.

Authorised by Adrian King. PO Box 5308 Middle Park, 3206 VIC