An early-evening stroll down Hargreaves Mall is not pleasant. 

Even less so when a gang of youths are being questioned by police regarding an alleged assault on Monday, which may or may not have involved a skateboard.

The alleged victim in the matter was the apparent instigator of the fracas, which spread down the mall and eventually fizzled out when the ‘victim’ hopped on a bus headed out of town.

Police dealt with the situation as diligently as they could, but without a victim to talk to – what can you do?

What struck me about the whole situation was that shopkeepers descended toward the police en mass.

Each had a story to tell about the alleged incident, or had a theory about who was involved.

The shopkeepers wore weary, almost resigned, expressions.

Not another one. Not this again.

A number of projects are in place to help rejuvenate the ailing district, including the recent visit of a ‘retail doctor’ to provide advice on how to attract new business into the CBD.

Opinions from shopkeepers and punters vary wildly, but one common theme is foot traffic. 

Get people in the mall, through activities or making them feel safe, and businesses will flourish.  

A full-time police presence, according to a number of shopkeepers, will help. 

When pressed on this issue in February, Superintendent Darren Franks said a full-time police presence in the mall was unrealistic and uneconomic, but a Bendigo-specific taskforce was working on issues within the mall. 

“Some demographics feel unsafe at times in an around the mall – there are public order issues with people in the mall,” Superintendent Franks said at the time. 

When people in Melbourne felt unsafe at train stations, the government at time time introduced PSOs. 

PSOs have been successfully employed at Bendigo Railway Station previously. 

Public order offences, ones which can be time consuming and onerous for police, are what PSOs specialise in. 

PSOs are currently restricted, through police regulations, to railways stations and their surrounds.

Maybe its time for a rethink, or a trial?