Henderson’s call for more police in mall

Rough sleepers a ‘safety issue’

CORANGAMITE Liberal MP Sarah Henderson has joined CBD workers in calling for a permanent police presence in Geelong’s troubled mall.

While the State Government stopped short of saying it would install around-the-clock policing, Police Minister Lisa Neville said patrols were increasing in the area.

Ms Henderson said: “It is imperative that Premier Daniel Andrews acts quickly to address safety issues and the number of people sleeping rough in the mall in Little Malop Street.

“We need a permanent police presence in the mall as the state Liberals promised.

“The community deserves to know what’s been done to fix the mall, including the growing homelessness challenges in Geelong for which the state is responsible.”

Homelessness in the mall has become increasingly visible recently, with a camp of rough sleepers outside 7-11.

The State Government has provided Neami National more than $2.3 million for outreach programs to find and house rough sleepers and for a supportive housing team to provide support to people who were formerly sleeping rough.

Neami National spokeswoman Rebecca Benson last week said its Assertive Outreach team had started foot pa- trols to engage with people in need in a bid to provide emergency housing and work towards long-term solutions.

Ms Neville said Victoria Police is “increasing patrols in the Geelong Mall to reassure the community, and they’ll continue to monitor extensive CCTV in the mall”.

“I’ll continue to back local police and give them the powers, tools and resources they need to keep the community safe,” Ms Neville said.

The comments come as an online petition calling for permanent police presence or a PSO hub in the mall gains support. Almost 1000 people had signed the petition later yesterday.

Created by a CBD worker named Monique, the change.org petition blurb reads: “(The mall) should be safe and inviting but it is not.

“I work in the CBD, and would like to be able to walk in broad daylight, let alone at night, without encountering drug dealers, fights, intimidation, disgusting language and behaviour.

“I want people from overseas to have (Geelong) on their itinerary like we have Rome or New York. The first step is making it safe, and we need police presence 24 hours in the mall as a first step.”

Ms Neville said “local police are already utilising Protective Services Officers to patrol bus stops in the mall.

“We have also committed to changing the legislation to provide greater flexibility for PSOs to be used at other places including shopping centres,” Ms Neville said.