RELATED:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The plight of Bendigo’s troubled shopping strip is gaining political traction, with Police Minister Lisa Neville expected to visit the city in the coming weeks to create a solution for community safety in Hargreaves Mall.
The idea of using Protective Service Officers to police the mall is expected to be discussed, but the Bendigo Advertiser understands it is unlikely to materialise.
The state government is changing the legislation around where PSOs can operate – currently officers are restricted to railway stations and their associated infrastructure.
The Andrews government is pushing through alterations so ‘mobile transport PSOs teams’ can operate around bus and trams stops, in additions to railway stations.
Hargreaves Mall has a bus stop on its north-eastern end, but it is understood problematic metropolitan areas will be prioritised by the new squads.
Bendigo has five PSOs which operate at the Bendigo Railway Station.
Minister Neville said Bendigo’s local MPs had requested the meeting to discuss security at the mall.
"This will involve meeting with local police, council and community members to develop a strategy to improve safety in that area."
City of Greater Bendigo mayor Margaret O’Rourke said she was hopeful a solution to the ailing street could be reached quickly.
“It’s not a simple as moving people on, because that will cause issues in other pockets of the city,” Cr O’Rourke said.
The Eppalock Ward Councilor said CCTV was an option that was “strongly there”, but who financed the cameras was still unclear.
Police have previously suggested better CCTV coverage in Hargreaves Mall would help to address and prevent anti-social behaviour after a spike in violent incidents over the Christmas and New Year’s period.
The Liberal Party promised the city $245,000 in extra CCTV cameras for Hargreaves Mall during the 2016 federal election campaign.
CCTV has proved successful in reducing crime in notorious streets in Melbourne, like Fitzroy Street in St Kilda.
Cr O’Rourke said a mixture of short and long-term solutions would best tackle the issues currently facing the mall.
Victoria Police Media Officer Sara-Jane Delaney said feedback from the community “strongly suggested” PSOs were having a real impact on safety at railway stations.
A recent Bendigo Advertiser online poll titled: ‘Would you like to see Protective Service Officers in Hargreaves Mall?’ had 479 respondents, of which 92 per cent (442 people) said yes.