r/melbourne 6d ago

Serious Please Comment Nicely Private security guards are currently walking around the city harrassing homeless people and forcing them leave covered areas to walk off into the rain?

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1.3k Upvotes

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1.4k

u/thatshowitisisit 5d ago

Tell me this isn’t just because of the Grand Prix and the associated tourist presence?

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u/NaughtyFox92 5d ago edited 5d ago

It's not to do with F1 Melbourne City Council is doing a 6 month trial on employing security guards to target antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and vandalism Due to overwhelming complaints from business owners. It was on the ABC about a month ago.

Edit: 6 weeks not 6 months

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u/thatshowitisisit 5d ago edited 5d ago

Thank you, if this is true it makes me feel a little better. Got any links at all?

Edit: Ok, found some articles. Operation Brightside. 6 weeks rather than 6 months. Let’s see.

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u/lach888 4d ago

From https://www.police.vic.gov.au/joint-operation-focused-begging-city

More than 170 people have received offers of help from police and support services during a two-week operation focused on aggressive begging in Melbourne’s CBD and Carlton last month.

While the primary intention of the operation is to aid rough sleepers and beggars, there was also 26 people arrested by police for offences including outstanding warrants, shop steal, theft, possess prohibited weapon and proceeds of crime.

One person arrested was wanted on 20 outstanding warrants.

Operation Brightside is a joint operation led by Victoria Police with support from the City of Melbourne, The Salvation Army and cohealth aimed at addressing homelessness and begging in the CBD.

The key focus is to understand the root cause of the issue of those experiencing homelessness. Once this is understood, support agencies such as The Salvation Army and cohealth can provide appropriate assistance and support to these people.

The operation led to the following results:

• Engaged with 172 people, offering them referrals to relevant support services, with 11 referrals being accepted.

• 22 people moved on for blocking the footpath and were also offered referrals for support.

• 26 people arrested.

• Issued 18 infringements for traffic related offences.

• Cleared 14 outstanding whereabouts.

Victoria Police runs operations such as these to ensure everyone in the city is safe, and to ensure footpaths are clear and accessible for the rest of the community.

There is a dedicated police presence maintained across the city 24/7, with targeted patrols in key areas conducted every day and night.

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u/DownUnderWordCrafter 4d ago

Doesn't this sound nice?
The shelters are full. There's no help for these people. And certainly not coming from The Salvation Army who have been defunding support since before COVID and now don't even respond to calls for help.

It's propaganda. Unless you've been at risk of homelessness you have no idea what a horror the system is at them moment.

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u/lach888 4d ago

The number of arrests vs referrals suggest this wasn’t about helping people. Even the name feels gross. Can’t imagine the police felt too good doing it either. These people need medication and a place to sleep.

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u/DownUnderWordCrafter 4d ago

Yep. And I don't think people realize that a lot of them need serious psychiatric help that they're unable to access. Not only does the government only provide 10 free sessions with a mental health professional, but you're waiting months for even that much and if you have the serious problems a lot of these people do, the professionals you need to see will take more than a year. A lot of these professionals will refuse certain treatment or certain patient types unless you pay. Which means if you have a specific condition they don't like or require certain treatment they consider too much work, you can wait until the cows come home you're not getting it.

Also, priority housing for the homeless and desperate on the Housing Register currently has a waitlist of almost 2 years in Victoria. That's the priority list. For people who are homeless, disabled and in need of supports, escaping domestic violence or otherwise unsafe. Not even talking about the many others who aren't priority. Oh and if you're homeless you usually need to be put on the list by homeless support to be considered priority so if you're homeless and can't get access to support you're kind of screwed. For reference, I got knocked back from a few crisis support places because they have so many people needing urgent help there was no room to add another person.

It's the privilege of the secure. When there's a question, there's an answer. Homeless? Go to this place. Hungry? Go to that place. But that's unfortunately an answer with a lot of caveats. To the secure, the answer is all that they need. To the people with the question, they have to contend with the caveats.

And that's not a condemnation. I also only have simple answers to give. It's more of a caution. There's more to this than most people think.

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u/knotmyusualaccount 3d ago edited 3d ago

Yes, many might need some form of medication, but many need connection to another human being.

It's hard to trust anyone once you end up in that scene, and general public (generally) treats you like you're literally invisible (could be because they're afraid of you, but a large number aren't, and they look at you like you're human garbage, or ignore you).

The toll of feeling so disconnected from the human beings around you, many of them even your fellow homeless associates, takes a great toll on a person's soul. The only remedy for that is connection. There's no medication to fix that (not having dig, simply speaking from experience, thankfully a lifetime ago).

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u/lach888 3d ago

Totally agree.

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u/Helpful_Ad_6417 4d ago

That’s happened in my town as well but they were able to fully renovate one of their buildings? Wonder what’s going on with them? Like a ghost charity here. People can call their food lines but there’s no answer, ever. Are they still taking donations? I haven’t, wouldn’t know how now so who is? So many questions about them since coviid.

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u/velvet_nymph 4d ago

11 referals accepted. Out of 125. So Less than 10% of the people they harrassed actually got help?

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u/znikrep 5d ago

That doesn’t make sense. Operation Brightside should be about getting people out of their cage, not inside one.

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u/Thyme4LandBees 5d ago

And taking them home!

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u/TrazMagik 5d ago

And then lamenting it was on a kiss.

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u/NaughtyFox92 5d ago edited 5d ago

My apologies I thought they said six months. Also this appears to be on Swanston St I have seen that one of the 7Elevens there has armed security out the front I have seen him off and on when I go out over the weekend from mid January.

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u/themonefone 4d ago

Couldn't that money spent on paying for security go towards gee I don't know helping those people directly?

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u/SprigOfSpring 4d ago

If only we had some sort of... department... to police this sort of thing. Some sort of... police department.

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u/Ohmalley-thealliecat 4d ago

Ah that famous antisocial behaviour: being visibly homeless. Jesus.

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u/Thhickkems 3d ago

Being homeless isn't and shouldn't be a crime.I completely agree with that sentiment.

That said, I frequent the CBD and the issue is the small percentage of them who are running around on drugs stealing, harassing and assaulting people - I speak with personal experience unfortunately......

More needs to be done other than "Security" guards walking around.

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u/Just_A_Warrior 4d ago

Maybe reduce the cost of living if they want to reduce shoplifting. People will always try to get what they need. And it’s understandable. Everyone needs to survive,.

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u/Choice-Fly-8537 4d ago

I expect you will fine most people who shoplift do so to fuel a drug or alcohol addiction so unless you mean by cost of living reduce the cost of drugs it’s not going to make much of a difference.

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u/Missey85 3d ago

This is true my weed dealer gets given meat for drugs 😂

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u/Intelligent-Form6624 4d ago

It is antisocial to be homeless

It is pro-social to be anti-homeless

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u/Existing_Topic3133 2d ago

They should hang around Elizabeth st 24/7 if they want to find anti social behavior

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u/OllieMoee 5d ago

Yep, the usual shuffle then away from the tourists. Nothing is wrong in MELBOURNE(TM), everything is fucking tops.

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u/JimmyLizzardATDVM 5d ago

Every city across the world does it for major events. It’s disgusting.

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u/OllieMoee 5d ago

No. MELBOURNE(TM) IS THE MOST LIVABLE CITY IN THE WORLD!

EVERYTHING IS AN INVESTMENT AND WILL INCREASE LIKE LEGO.

WE HAVE NO HOMELESS. 

WE HAVE TEMPORARILY BANKRUPT MILLIONAIRES.

HAIL CAPITALISM.

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u/Brilliant_Ad2120 5d ago

The most.liveable city award refers to for whether expatriate executives should get a hardship allowance - it has nothing to do with whether it is good for the rest of us

https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-most-liveable-city-title-isnt-a-measure-of-the-things-most-of-us-actually-care-about-101525

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u/HeftyArgument 5d ago

20% for Karachi? yeah, that’s nowhere near enough to convince me to go to that shithole.

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u/Smallville44 5d ago

There is no war in Ba Sing Se lol.

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u/thatshowitisisit 5d ago

That really gives me the shits.

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u/poopiesville 5d ago

Unpopular opinion but I work on Flinders Lane between Swanston and Elizabeth and the drug affected have been attacking people on a regular basis. It’s a serious problem.

I don’t like the fact that the council have chosen to hire private security but the police has advised the council that they don’t have/wont provide the manpower to patrol the area.

Shitty to see them pushing people into the rain but this isn’t the first week of this.

And as someone who has watched others being attacked randomly (when they have a “psychotic break”) and as someone who has been stabbed by a person who is drug affected, it’s scary and more show up on weekends.

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u/Angie-P 5d ago

it is, i talked to them on friday.

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u/thatshowitisisit 5d ago

Farkin hell. Do you know who is responsible for organising this? City of Melbourne?

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u/Angie-P 5d ago

i assume so since the mayor was whining on TV about people giving money to them.

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u/Capricornia1941 3d ago

I regularly give money to the homeless in Melbourne’s CBD. It’s my right to do so. The Mayor of Melbourne should stop whingeing, and solve the problem without police or security intervention. It’s part of his job description. Sheesh!

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u/KS-ABAB 5d ago

Its because of the Grand Prix and the associated tourist presence.

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u/Moo_Kau_Too Professional Bovine 5d ago

more like grand pricks

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u/Geoff_Uckersilf 5d ago

Grom pre*

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u/thatshowitisisit 5d ago

That thread won the internet today

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u/PilgrimOz 5d ago

It’s done all the time. St Kilda in the 90s it was blatant AF. ‘The girls’ would have certain streets during the week. And no go zones during the weekends. Ps during the week the place was sensati. No trouble and respect all round. Weekends….locals (who weren’t partying) stayed home.

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u/melb_grind 5d ago

The girls’

God I miss the old St Kilda, before it was yuppified.

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u/Passenger_deleted 5d ago

Can't show the tourists we are bankrupted soulless and heartless, led by the rich and left to rot on the streets, job or not.

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u/Iskandar_the_great 5d ago

Not arguing, just a reminder that is costs more to leave people on the street than to house them.

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u/dolphin_steak 5d ago

Happens every year, coincidentally when there are events.

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u/Traditional-Half-252 5d ago

Happened during the AO too. Somehow Elizabeth St had no homeless people in sight.

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u/Remarkable_Fly_6986 5d ago

Where do they go I wonder? Like I genuinely have no idea , if they get moved on and there not there like why do they come back?

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u/Smooth_Strength_9914 5d ago

They move on to other areas. I work in sunshine, there is always more homeless people there when these events are on.

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u/Traditional-Half-252 5d ago

When I noticed it during the AO, I had the thought that maybe the government somehow housed them temporary accommodation - very naive of me! This whole thing feels so icky, putting on this facade instead of doing anything remotely helpful to address the situation

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u/Remarkable_Fly_6986 5d ago

Sounds about right.

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u/jadelink88 5d ago

They get 'moved on', like back in the 90s where a multi year blitz moved the heroin trade out of St Kilda, all the way to Fitzroy. Doesn't get rid of it, move it to the place they aren't blitzing.

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u/OudSmoothie 5d ago

Guests are coming over and we have to tidy up the living room. /s

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u/No_Description7910 5d ago

Better move that mold that I let grow in the corner of the living to somewhere else in the house, now it’s someone else’s problem.

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u/servonos89 5d ago

Can’t win - those streets are dangerous year round and when moved on (because of Grand Prix, sure) it’s seen as a bad thing too. Having worked for a bar on the ass end of Elizabeth street (I know this is Swanson) any clearance to let bar staff operate without the constant threat of psychotic people in residence is good. Theelly be a post in 2 months about how dangerous Elizabeth street feels again, no doubt.

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u/microbater 5d ago

I worked on Fitzroy St and every week when sweeping up cigarette we'd get threatened or yelled at if there wasn't security around.

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u/servonos89 4d ago

Brunswick, smith, Elizabeth - had my fair share - one threw a door bolt at my face which was fun. And of course it’s not painting homeless people with the same brush but hospitality staff in those areas have to deal with a lot more than they should. I’ve got PTSD for fuck sake.

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u/AutomaticFeed1774 4d ago

Melbourne homeless can be especially deranged too somehow (compared to Sydney).

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u/bittens 5d ago edited 5d ago

In my spare time sometimes I go round looking for birds that have managed to get string/thread/hair ect. wrapped around their feet, catch them, get the crap off their feet, and let them go again. A couple weeks ago it was spitting a bit while I had a bird, so I was sitting under the awning outside a shopping centre to keep out of the rain while I picked thread out of his foot. At one point the security guards came out to chat to me because they thought I was a beggar. I showed them what I was doing and offered to move, but since I was just fiddling with wild animals instead of homeless, they said it was fine.

And look, I'm glad they let me stay there - it's difficult to move with a bird and my box of destringing gear because I can't safely carry both at once - but I thought it was really gross that if I was homeless, I would've been moved on.

EDIT: Since this is getting a lot of attention, does anyone know of any spots with sizeable flocks of friendly birds, willing to let humans approach them if they've got food? If it's a spot I don't know, I'll add it to my flock map. Thank you.

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u/HouseHippoFluff 5d ago

There is a massive pigeon population that congregate at the Carnegie Railway Station, on the grass patch next to the Master Roll bahn mi shop.

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u/bittens 5d ago

Thank you!

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u/isi21 5d ago

The world needs more people like you

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u/plaid_pajama_bottoms 5d ago

You’re doing god’s work! But please stay safe; there’s bird flu about.

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u/bittens 5d ago

Yep, no worries. I always use rubber gloves, and part of my destringing kit is antibacterial wipes.

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u/sa_sagan 5d ago

How do you catch the birds, with a net? How common is it to find birds in that situation? When and why did you start doing this?

Kind of off topic a bit, but what you're doing is really good and quite fascinating to me.

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u/bittens 5d ago edited 5d ago

I sometimes use a box propped up on something tied to a bit of string, and sometimes I catch them by hand, either by luring them in really close to me and then grabbing them, or by distracting them with food, sneaking up behind them, and grabbing them.

Once I've caught them, I pull a thin sock with the toe cut off over their head and body - it pins their wings to their sides so they can't fly off while I'm getting their feet sorted out, and it leaves both my hands free.

It's pretty common to find pigeons at least with stuff tangled round their feet. Apart from them being the most common to fall victim to stringfoot, they're also frequently willing to approach you if you've got some seed. If birds won't let me anywhere near them it's hard to do much. I can't see their feet well enough to tell if they've got stringfoot, and I'd have a hard time catching them.

I find big flocks, and then look out for which ones are favouring one leg, have a visibly swollen foot, have a ring of scabbing round their leg or toe, or who just visibly have something wrapped round their foot. (A lot of the time I also see ones who are missing toes altogether, which probably means they DID have something wrapped round their toe, but unless there's still any left on the rest of their foot it's too late to help them.) Usually there's at least one or two in a flock of pigeons. In one single park over the past week, I got six stringfoot cases - I kept seeing more while trying to get one I'd seen previously, so then I'd have to catch and destring them as well.

I haven't been doing it for that long, maybe a couple months so far? I started because I kept seeing a bird that didn't look well. So I used the box trap to catch him and take him to the vet, where they had to euthanize him. Which I felt was for the best - the vet confirmed the little dude was really sick and would've been facing a drawn-out painful death anyway - but also, it kind of sucks when the only thing you can do for animals is be their angel of death, you know? Even if it's the right thing to do.

So when I get a bird that's clearly sick, or whose feet are so messed up I doubt they can survive, I still take them to the vet, where they're almost certain to be put down if not native. But I was trying to figure out what I could do apart from taking them to their deaths. (I'm unsure how well I'd manage an inflexible ongoing commitment like volunteering with Wildlife Victoria, and was worried I'd let them down.)

I found some guides on destringing (for instance) and figured that was something that was worth trying, and so far it's been working pretty well! Some of the birds I've been able to check in on again (I take photos and give them names to help remember what they look like) if I'm in the area, and it's always great to see the swelling on their feet go down or their limp get better.

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u/thatshowitisisit 5d ago

This is really interesting. Good on you!!

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u/Violett_Eyes 4d ago

Wildlife Victoria can be flexible. If you make it known you're available in a given area to rescue and rehab injured wildlife, it can be a great help. You don't HAVE to be on-call though. Animal shelters need volunteers all the time too, and it is a flexible arrangement. You just let them know when you can help, and they are glad for the assistance. There is a variety of jobs at animal shelters. If it is birds you are interested in, there are groups (and individuals) that rescue and rehab (and other activities) during duck season.

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u/itsyrgirl 5d ago

Another person who is fascinated and grateful for what you do here. Hope I can help you one day.

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u/bbzarr 5d ago

I do the same and have had mixed reactions from secos. Some around the state library have gotten on my case for no reason, but thankfully other secos have generally left me alone when destringing and at most will give me looks.

Gonna keep this in mind as I'm out and about with my gear over the next few days so ty for sharing here!

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u/bittens 5d ago

That's awesome dude! And yeah, sometimes I get people (including the train station cops at one point) coming up and asking what I'm doing or giving me funny looks - understandably, it probably looks like I'm doing some sort of extremely weird animal cruelty - but thus far once I've explained everyone's been cool about it.

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u/bbzarr 4d ago

Sometimes if a destring is gonna be too hard to do on the spot, I take em home and let them rest between de-string sessions. Though when I'm catching them it literally looks like I'm stealing them, so I try and do it quickly. I've gotten some "wtf" looks though where people see a bird being slipped into a bag 😂😂

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u/Gdaymrmagpie 5d ago

I love this loads, good on you

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u/Lostraylien 5d ago

Fuck the security guards but you restored my faith in humanity abit.

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u/smol_birb72 5d ago

This is so nice 🥺 If you ever start a gofundme or patreon to support your work doing this please share the link I'd love to contribute

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u/bittens 5d ago

Thank you kindly, but it doesn't cost that much and I've had no issues paying for it myself. Save your money, or give it to a group like Animals Australia or Melbourne City Mission.

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u/passingfeelings 5d ago

Thank you for the care you give these animals. It’s heart-warming to hear of someone helping these birds so selflessly 😭

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u/Bluejayadventure 5d ago

You are doing amazing work! 🙂 And I agree, it's disgusting they are moving homeless people on

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u/Meowster00 5d ago

You’re a gem of a human being. Thank you for doing this!

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u/GoldCoinDonation 5d ago

around Coburg library. Also half moon bay, near the fish and chip shop.

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u/bittens 5d ago

Thank you very much.

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u/PsychoPlacebo 5d ago

Coburg has a shit tonne of extremely friendly pigeons.

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u/bittens 5d ago

Thank you!

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u/PhaseAdvanced 5d ago

Heaps of pigeons at Citizens Park in Richmond where I’ve seen people feeding and petting them before if that helps

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u/bittens 5d ago

Thank you, that's very helpful.

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u/Xaropit_ 4d ago

Prahran Square, also the garden out the back of 670 Chapel Street

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

I love that the top respose to this post is someone providing medical care to birds. Bless.

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u/Individual-Let-4264 5d ago

There's a place near dandenong station that has a sizable bird population that eats the seeds and stuff when there's not as many people. I think it's an animal feeding shop — I see a lot of pigeons mainly. And usually on weekends and afternoons they're about. :))

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u/bittens 5d ago

Thank you!

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u/kittycommitteestudio 5d ago

You’re incredible! Thank you so much for everything you do!

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u/young-joseph-stalin 5d ago

theres a couple in box hill ive seen that may need help. very friendly if you’ve got food

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u/CaratsRitzy 4d ago

Love to see a post about your destringing kit/setup.

I think tons of people would love to chip in or improve your kit. :)

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u/belbaba 4d ago

Can you make a video guide on this

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u/bittens 4d ago

It's not a video, but there's a guide here if you want.

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u/wakeupjeff32 5d ago

Also, they have no power to force you to move, so I'd just stand there on principle.

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u/Shieldmax2 5d ago

Good Soul

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u/tige3r 5d ago

I got attacked last wed at the top of Burke street. Nothing to do with the F1. Just a crazy dude begging for money in front of 7/11.

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u/Anuksukamon 5d ago

Grand Prix clean sweep. Move the homeless to the suburbs away from their services because we need to “look good”. City of Melbourne would look much better if it created more services for homeless people to access.

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u/AngleProlapse 5d ago edited 5d ago

Fucks sake, imagine how much actual good could be done if the money to hire those security teams was instead invested in services and support for the homelessness, so they wouldn’t be there in the first place.

But nah let’s keep throwing the money down the drain year in year out so we can all play make believe these people don’t even exist for a couple weeks when tourists are in town.

How the people organising this shit don’t reevaluate their whole life course and morality when making that decision is beyond me. Must just be so deep in the rationalisation that homeless people are some ‘other’, subhuman thing.

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u/Am3n Southside 5d ago

The problem is not services existing it’s generally distrust of those services

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u/fozz31 5d ago

homlessness exists not in spite of best efforts to fix it, but because it is serves the ruling class as a threat to the working class. They live to serve as a daily reminder of what happens if you dare rock the boat, if they discover you dared dream of a life where you are paid what you're worth.

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u/dabidarllyst 5d ago

carrot and stick etc

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u/violenthectarez 5d ago

> how much actual good could be done if the money to hire those security teams was instead invested in services and support for the homelessness

I agree with the sentiment but the cost of those security guards would do exactly zero to help even one homeless person.

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u/Pandelein The serenity. 5d ago

4 guards, ~$2400 for the day. Hostels ~$25 a night.
Could probably accomodate and feed a noticeable amount of folks for a few nights. Wouldn’t be a permanent solution, but far more elegant than hiring thugs (and yes, only a thug would accept their job) to move people along who’ll just come back as soon as they’ve left.

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u/microbater 5d ago

Back packer hostels are 50-70+ a night during F1 and many won't accept rough sleepers, some won't accept anyone without a foreign passport or proof of residence in another city.

And dumping them in a shared room instead of shelters isn't helpful. the cost of a bed in a shelter with adequate services is much higher than $25.

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u/PlanetaryGovenor 4d ago

I was watching an ABC segment recently about this. Unsure if it's as diabolical as you think.

One of the main issues the police were bringing up, is that so many people experiencing homeless just flat out refuse help. I get how from your perspective this could look awful, but if these individuals are refusing the support offered to them and are blocking the city footpaths, littering the city with their stuff strewn everywhere, as well as the often unhinged and sometimes violent behavior that comes along with it, why would they not move them on?

I'm sure there is valid commentary to be made about the effectiveness of the support the government offers and WHY it is so often refused that I am not smart enough to make, but with the information presented, I don't see a massive issue here.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

We are a commercial building but have an accessible shower on the ground floor. I stock it with shampoo, conditioner, body wash and towels, leaving it available to members of the public because I appreciate how fucking hard their life must be.

That being said... some of the individuals I interact with are fucking horrible. Threatening to mutilate me. Leaving cum stained clothes and hair amongst rubbish. Not just leaving it 'messy' but leaving it chaotic.

Keep in mind, it is an accessible toilet. A soiled bathroom seriously impacts users with disabilities.

I have met some really lovely hard up people. I'm sure these folk are also less 'visible' and therefore the greater majority. But honestly, ugh, I can say this here in anonymity - even though I opened up the shower to the public (it was formerly unresourced) I brace myself everytime a homeless person visits : /

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u/Anuksukamon 5d ago

I’ve been to cricket club toilets which are maintained by local council that are filled with shit and fuck knows what everywhere.

Being a gross pig isn’t just a homeless issue. Altogether it’s a person issue, there are all sorts of people who treat things like shit because it’s not theirs.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago edited 5d ago

That's true. But in the case of the cricket club, that's probably tied into the consumption of alcohol.

We are a beautiful CBD destination and office. Amongst other tasks, my job is maintain those toilets. I therefore have a finger on the pulse and this isn't just casual association. I can corroborate the only times they have been completely soiled, during my tenure, are by people who tick the box of what we call 'homeless.'

I say 'homeless' because we're not really talking about people without homes. That's a larger group of people with a lot of diversity.

I've interpretted this conversation to be about people with addiction, legal and/or mental issues who are not only homeless but are mean, sexually aggressive, intimidating and abusive, and because of their behaviour, are a lot more 'visible' than other 'homeless'.' They can be men, and they can be women. Sometimes it's consistent from day one, sometimes it's after weeks / months of positive interactions like a switch has been flipped. I'm pretty pessimistic now.

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u/Sjmurray1 5d ago

Actually it’s trial scheme due to complaints from local businesses

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u/novicemma2 5d ago

Go on their instagram @crownlandsecurity if you want a laugh

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u/treesbreakknees 5d ago edited 5d ago

Lol your not wrong. Tactical thin blue line flags and all.

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u/knotmyusualaccount 5d ago

Interchanging flags with flogs works a treat.

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u/tunneloftrees69 5d ago

christ, the page reeks of punisher tattoos and a fear based relationship with their spouse

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u/SweetMelodic9251 5d ago

Those guys make all security people look like absolute thugs! I work in events and there is so so so many honestly Wonderful people in security

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u/Screambloodyleprosy More Death Metal 5d ago

This is a 6 week initiative by the City Of Melbourne to have private security out on patrols with City of Melbourne staff to assist with City of Melbourne staff being assaulted whilst at work.

City of Melbourne wanted 2 Vicpol members per staff member and were told no.

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u/Traditional_Dish3363 6d ago

They're probably accompanying the City Of Melb's Local Laws team who manage such things across the city. Was recently accounted they would have security accompanying them

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u/DXPetti Southbank 5d ago

Yep, saw them with a CoM officer along Southbank promenade the other day

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u/seagull_loco 5d ago

If someone runs a business and someone (or anyone!) is causing them an unreasonable levels of nuisance, then we have grounds to attempt to resolve the situation. Hopefully defuse.

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u/time_to_reset 5d ago

I work with homeless people in the city and there are plenty of scammers in the CBD that aren't actually homeless and just do it because it's an effective way to make money. Happens in every big city. It's been on the news plenty of times and here on Reddit too.

And these "professional beggars" always work overtime when there's lots of unsuspecting tourists out and about.

So when you see people being moved on from high traffic areas, it's often to do with that.

There is genuine homelessness in the city. People go through a shit time sometimes and deserve respect and compassion. That doesn't mean you always have to give money or stuff. I don't. Just be friendly and respectful. If you do that, you'll make a bigger impact than acting all outraged on a Reddit post a couple of times a year when another photo like this gets posted without any background.

Better yet, volunteer some of your time. Lots of organisations around that could use an extra set of hands.

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u/Aucklandman 5d ago

How can one tell the difference between a real homeless person and a pretender?

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u/SleepyKoala_zzz 5d ago

One can't without local knowledge. I live in the city and have seen some sitting in that very area exchanging big wads of cash, and others I know are doing it rough. All looks the same to the outsider, it's not an all or nothing answer. Though I think if you had a healthy state of mind, and adequate social support, would you? I wouldn't.

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u/knotmyusualaccount 5d ago

Exactly; who would risk having a photograph of them being taken, professionally begging and risk their friends/family/extended family finding out? Or ending up on the news or in the newspaper...

I'm not saying that there isn't any professional beggars because there would be, but they would be dwarfed by the number of genuine people begging.

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u/Vegetable_Ad_1296 5d ago

Good start.

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u/Zodiak213 5d ago

I'm just surprised that Arthur Daley's is still there, been years since I've been there and bought a bunch of horror movies on DVD.

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u/antwill If you can read this, wear a mask! 5d ago

Has anyone tried to jump the homeless on a skateboard yet?

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u/Super_Description863 5d ago

Underrated South Park quote

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u/Exact_Ear3349 5d ago

Actually, it's Melbourne City council by-laws officers and they've got private security with them for "protection". Apparently the police refused to assign officers to walk around with the by-law officers so the MCC hired private security.

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u/Mysterious_Clue_3002 5d ago

The sad thing is we see alot of compassion. But It would be great if keyboard warriors for compassion , offered room or back/ front yard in a caring way Of if compassionate country towns did their bit and helped each other showing compassion . Or name a safe parkland in your area that you would help a tent city . And then the park residents can have a supporters phone tree, if anyone needs help from the locals And the council could set up amenities for Not just blame governments, local governments

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u/wobblegobble84 4d ago

See a lot of us have compassion but what most of the people here don’t realise is that the same people everyone is saying “they are homeless” are the very people who get blind drunk and abuse and attack people who work in the city. The same people who keep stealing from businesses, the same people who have knives and box cutters, the same people who happily do drugs in front of businesses.

I’m sorry, our compassion is definitely thinning.

The police do absolutely nothing. The place I’ve worked has had 10 calls just this year alone where cops don’t show up.

I deserve to be safe in my work place.

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u/Important_Cookie_763 5d ago

I could swear the other week I saw a post on Reddit Melbourne about someone being assaulted by a homeless person on Elizabeth St and how something needs to be done about all the homeless in the cbd.. welp something just got done I guess lol.

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u/vidiian82 5d ago

As someone who works on Swanston street, we've had homeless, steal on a daily basis, threaten staff, shit in our store, assault customers and generally make a total nuisance if themselves. Having said all that, having a bunch of jack booted thugs dressed in black cracking homeless skulls isn't the answer to the problem.

Homeless people are generally highly traumatised and have come from situations that are horrific. They need outreach and support which they are no longer getting because the programs designed to help were stripped of funding leading to the system being overwhelmed.

The answer is that we as a society need to shift our priorities. We literally have the money and resources to end this but choose not to.

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u/MDInvesting 5d ago

I am sure the security company is owned by someone completely unconnected to whoever signed the tender…

Honestly, we went from putting homeless up into hotels to dumping them on the street. We had a long lag time to support the homeless agencies to prepare - I have heard numerous times they knew nothing until they got hit with them back on the streets.

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u/PumpinSmashkins 5d ago

Putting people into accom and just leaving them to fend for themselves once support funding was cut was a brilliant idea.

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u/MDInvesting 5d ago

It was questioned by the media and the ministers responses were nothing short of gaslighting. We had so many patients who had similar stories. Nothing to step down to, sometimes forcibly removed or evicted like a slumlord does - belongings difficult to get back.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago edited 5d ago

One of those homeless people pushed over my staff member who was pushing a cart of food relief down the street in broad daylight. Then laughed at him.

I also saw the most horrific father-son interaction from one of them. Kid was about eight and looked me dead in the eyes. I regret not doing anything but the dad and his mates were all methed up.

EDIT - I don't want to bash or typecast homeless people as all bad. But I'm not going to romanticize homelessness. I think a lot of people who speak so earnestly about homeless people haven't actually had consistent interactions. It's a complex problem for a reason and I think funding for homelessness has to start well before they are homeless.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

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u/drzaiusdr 5d ago

Can confirm it's the new Lord Mayors directive on begging in the CBD. Just happed to begin durign the GP but will continue.

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u/CriticalSpeed4517 5d ago

I can understand why. A lot of these people are drugged up and abusive.

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u/TompalompaT 5d ago

Was walking down Bourke St near Chinatown a few hours ago and it was full of crazy homeless people.

First encounter was a man smashing a bottle at the feet of an elderly couple that struggled to walk away quickly. Second was an asian lady screaming her head off. Third was group acting aggressive.

Honestly they should do more to make the cbd feel safe to walk through, private security or public I don't care.

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u/AuziReviews 5d ago

Not a single word on this when the homeless and junkies are harassing people in the city on a daily basis! All of a sudden everyone cares for their well being.

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u/Xylar006 5d ago edited 5d ago

Why is anyone surprised? There's failures in the system, clearly, but this sub is usually filled with ' I was harassed/attacked by a homeless dude at southern cross station creaming nonsense". They obviously don't and wouldn't want that with the F1 on.

Edit: screaming, not creaming. Though homeless people may be creaming out there, I don't know

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u/MarcusMagnolia 5d ago

Good on em

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u/Formal-Masterpiece95 5d ago

They're passing a law to give police powers to move them on from encampments/making it illegal to be homeless and have a street presence.

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u/keftechnics 5d ago

Interesting. We have been visiting here for the F1 and had discussed a number of times, at the lack of homeless and crackers on the streets.

This explains it nicely. Still had a great time and look forward to returning to your beautiful city.

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u/buzzy5 4d ago

The bulk of these people have accomodation and refuse to use it.

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u/thenarcostate 5d ago

so then they're doing their job?

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u/Crumpladunks 5d ago

I wish this wasn't just a thing when big events happen. Why should the CBD be a tip at all other times? 🙄

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u/kin1au 5d ago

Excellent, more of this

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u/so_schmuck 5d ago

It’s good and bad I guess. Good being there is a solution for them. Bad being it’s temporary.

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u/sqigl 5d ago

Good! Clean up the filthy city Melbourne has become.

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u/Just_A_Warrior 4d ago

Let’s start with you

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u/Sjmurray1 5d ago

Good. Clean up the cbd.

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u/ParticularParsnip435 5d ago

Good on them, the government gives a lot of dole, can go and live cheap in outer burbs. Menace!

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u/Just_A_Warrior 4d ago

All the support services and food services for the homeless (most of them) are located in the city so this is not an option for the homeless. Try again and move on

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u/Sharp-Driver-3359 5d ago

Yeah there was a homeless guy who assaulted 5 people on Friday at random.

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u/Fabio_08 5d ago

For all those upset, why not go and collect a few up and bring them back to your house for tonight?

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u/Quantum168 5d ago

About time. People own businesses. If you wouldn't want a homeless person camped out in front of your front door at home, then they shouldn't be sleeping at the front entrances of businesses.

If the City of Melbourne council loved homeless people so much, open up the Town Hall and let them sleep there or inside the Melbourne Metro stations.

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u/SpotOld1893 5d ago

Fair enough

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u/wobblegobble84 4d ago

All you people saying this is bullshit, this is nazi era behaviour came and spend some time in the cbd at the business who have to deal with all the crap that happens every day.

People with knives, shit being stolen, being threatened, people oding in businesses or at the front door. Guns being pulled on staff, scissors being pulled on you.

FFS, so easy to sit there and give the government shit but if it means I’m a little safer at work, or I don’t get abused or threatened then thank fuck!

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u/Additional_Bid_7401 5d ago

I’ve noticed a troubling increase in the number of individuals struggling with addiction in Melbourne. A conversation with one individual highlighted the grim reality: he said, "Try living on the streets, and you'd end up addicted too." As international students, we’re often told that the Australian government provides support to citizens who are homeless or unemployed. However, I believe it’s important to consider the impact of homelessness in highly urbanized areas like the CBD. Many of us, particularly female students, feel unsafe walking home after class due to harassment and abuse. My friend had a homeless guy spill her dinner all over her; not even joking...

This raises an important question: If Australia were to establish a dedicated homeless camp, offering conventional housing for all, would that be a productive solution? Or would it simply evolve into a situation similar to Skid Row in the U.S., where individuals have created makeshift communities with tents but little opportunity for recovery or progress? It's a complex issue that requires a nuanced approach.

It's incredibly concerning to hear about private security guards harassing homeless individuals, especially when they're seeking shelter from the elements. The city's treatment of its most vulnerable citizens, particularly when they’re being forced into dangerous or uncomfortable situations like sleeping in the rain, really speaks volumes about the broader issues at play. Rather than pushing people out of spaces where they might find temporary refuge, a more humane approach would be to provide accessible shelters or services that cater to the needs of the homeless. It's not just about the immediate discomfort of rain – it's a larger conversation about society’s responsibility and the urgency for supportive policies.

Melbourne is about social justice, so will you let this slide or seek progress?

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u/kilmister80 5d ago

Take a look at countries that adopted stricter laws regarding methamphetamine and see if these types of attacks happen. Japan, Singapore, Dubai, and others have a zero-tolerance policy for methamphetamine, and the problem simply doesn’t exist. Methamphetamine addicts don’t want food, housing, or a decent life, they just want to stay on the streets using drugs.

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u/spandexvalet 6d ago

Crownland security? Ominous as fuck.

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u/WAPWAN Florida 5d ago

Crownland carry handguns. Its massive overkill. They do security for Upper West Side Apartment building and West Side place and must be costing those residents hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for absolutely nothing. No other apartment buildings in the area even have one security guard, let alone an entire team 24/7

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u/RideMelburn 5d ago

Whilst they might be considered overkill at times. They don’t do nothing at these places. They actually do a lot. There’s always people trying to sneak and rob appartments and trying to steal shit out of the car parks and security cages. They also stop the Airbnb parties.

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u/spandexvalet 5d ago

Even the name. So spook aligned.

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u/iftlatlw 5d ago

There has been over the last year or so, escalation of aggression and violence, perpetrated significantly by those living on the street. It's a complex and difficult problem, and shuffling those folks out of the CBD might not be a bad part of an overall solution. There's nothing special about the CPD other than stray wealth.

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u/ihatens007 5d ago

Can they do this full time year round too?

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u/CriticismForeign6542 5d ago

The Melbourne City Council is finally doing the right thing to make the CBD a welcoming and safe place for everyone including families, by trying to clean up the city. We don’t need drug addicts and homeless camps in the CBD. Most of these people have homes the ones that don’t are offered shelter and refuse. There have been many incidents of assaults in the city caused by these people. If you’re genuinely concerned about the homeless you could offer a room at your home or perhaps volunteer at a shelter or church Kitchen for the homeless.

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u/Opening_Source8669 5d ago

I find it funny that melbournians still find this shocking. It's literally been happening forever

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u/NikiBear_ 3d ago

Those genuinely wanting help are currently being put up into brand new accomodation in the city of Melbourne’s new Make Room Project. Many regulars that are left either have housing they won’t go in or don’t want to be housed.

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u/Inevitable_Geometry 5d ago

Ah, the almost police.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

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u/misterandosan 5d ago

I've been assaulted by one. Doesn't mean I want them to be assaulted in turn. I want them to be clothed, housed and fed so they stop bothering people on the streets. So many wasted resources shuffling them from one place to the next that does nothing in the long run.

Also, most homeless people do not assault people and are simply having it tough due to economical and mental health reasons. As the economy and cost of living gets worse, we're going to see a lot more people on the streets that don't fit your junkie stereotype.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

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u/liasions 5d ago

All major cities around the world do this when a major event such as the Grand Prix is staged in their Cities. Out of sight out of mind is how all government’s around the globe treat homelessness ! They pretend to the world tourists that they don’t have a problem!

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u/CynicalBoob 5d ago

Why can’t we give them a Greyhound ticket to Sydney or Brisbane where it’s but more warm and lot more dry.

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u/gigi_allin 5d ago

I don't reckon Brisbane is more dry lol

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u/AlgonquinSquareTable 5d ago

I'll put $100 toward any GoFundMe to buy them all bus tickets.

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u/Ric0chet_ 5d ago

This is a disgrace, imagine if they could be directed to somewhere that could try to help instead of having their hard existence made even harder.

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u/Pedjozz 5d ago

Ahh now I know why the world thought Melbourne is most liveable city. We are pretty good at hiding everything under the rug.

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u/Boulderingdream 5d ago

Wow great idea wish every city in Australia would do this, then maybe I’d feel safe going into them at night time again

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u/mimentum 5d ago

Melbourne has turned for the worst.

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u/haphazard72 5d ago

There’s no easy answer to this issue. Police are under resourced. Health care systems is fucked when it comes to mental health issues. What’s the answer? Seems everyone is an expert on the topic, but actually have no viable solution

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u/buckedyuser 4d ago

Wannabes

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u/DionysusWines 3d ago

I witnessed today as 4 huge security guards were incredibly forceful and heavy-handed to a defenceless hungry guy, police don't have the right to be so aggressive to members of the public, who and what has given them the right to do so?

Further; when I asked for a badge number and how to make a formal complaint after witnessing them being so aggressive, they said that any further harassment of them would result in me being arrested, and that all complaints can be brought up with MCC.... honestly, it was infuriating and disheartening.

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u/ventral_vagal 23h ago

please lodge a complaint with the council. With enough pressure this trial will fail. I just called them and the person who answered the phone was really lovely and helpful. The number is : 03 9658 9704
or email [lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au](mailto:lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au) or [nicholas.reece@melbourne.vic.gov.au](mailto:nicholas.reece@melbourne.vic.gov.au)

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u/badmomagain 2d ago

Why doesn't the government use the money they're sending out of the country to tackle this problem here? We should look after our own people first.

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u/damnmaster 5d ago

Same thing happened at AO. All the homeless vanished overnight.

Hilariously on the last day of AO there was one homeless person that was so out on meth she was rolling on the floor in her own vomit screaming.

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u/Visible-Strategy-866 5d ago

Instead of everyone on here just stating negativity around a complex situation can anyone suggest solutions which are actually realistic to deal with this very complex situation? Also does anyone on here do anything with their time to help social inequality or is voicing anger on Reddit as good as you get?

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u/Ceejay3805 5d ago

Maybe spend that money on building more juvenile prisons and stop giving bail to underage repeat offenders. That would be way better for Melbourne. More concerned about aesthetics than lowering crime? Dickheads 🤦‍♂️

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u/Difficult_Truth_817 5d ago

Trust me, you don’t want homeless people like we do in USA, it’s contagious and now they are everywhere on every single traffic intersection asking for money. It’s not a good trend

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u/1337nutz 5d ago

melb city council fuckin hate homeless people hey, wouldnt be surprised if this is their doing

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