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The City of Greater Bendigo is set to petition the state government for more police and better closed circuit television facilities for Hargreaves Mall if it accepts recommendations to be tabled at tomorrow night’s council meeting.
The report calls for 10 extra sworn police positions to be created in the Bendigo service area, including five in the city itself, in response to a recent escalation of violence in the central business district.
Other priorities identified in the report include:
- An upgrade and expansion of CBD surveillance systems and the introduction of more effective processes including hand-held cameras for police;
- Immediate changes to government policy to enable the deployment of protective services officers to bus terminals in regional centres;
- A 12-month dedicated Department of Justice outreach worker role to oversee and facilitate on-site responses to escalating issues in the CBD;
- And a dedicated “education liaison officer” to provide support to schools and workplaces.
The report, prepared by outgoing community wellbeing director Pauline Gordon, warns if its recommendations are not followed some traders could be forced to shut up shop.
“If no action [is] taken it is reasonably anticipated that the situation will continue to escalate, with more frequent incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour occurring at the mall,” it reads.
“This would result in a reduction in the number of public members willing to pass through and shop in the mall, directly impacting the commercial viability of the traders and forcing them to close.”
The report lists “physical and verbal threats, drug dealing and taking, alcohol consumption, intimidation, spitting, urinating in public spaces, damage to property, shoplifting and throwing trader furniture” as among the issues reported by business owners.
It also reveals traders have observed “significant consumption of alcohol and drug-taking and dealing on a daily basis” in the mall, while police have identified a number of those involved “may potentially be in the possession of weapons”.
“Traders, [council] officers and members of the public regularly encountering the group in the course of their work duties report of feeling threatened and unsafe, particularly if the incident is then escalated to police, as this cohort have previously returned seeking retribution,” it reads.