CBD WAR ON GYPSIES

SOUTHPORT businesses are spending thousands of dollars turning their buildings into minifortresses complete with canine patrols and fencing to ward off violent and abusive vagrants.

A “hardcore” group of drug and alcohol-charged vagrants is accused of defecating, spraying graffiti, stealing mail and causing property damage on Short St.

One long-time businessman said: “We have called the ambos because they are fighting in the street. We have seen people overdose from drugs in the Seabank carpark.”

SOUTHPORT businesses are spending thousands of dollars turning their buildings into mini-fortresses complete with canine patrols, fencing and floodlights to ward off violent and abusive vagrants.

A “hardcore” group of eight drug and alcohol-fuelled vagrants is accused of defecating, urinating, spraying graffiti, stealing mail and causing property damage on Short St in the heart of the CBD.

Kevin Nicol, who heads up financial solutions provider Quill group, said in two decades of operating in the CBD he had never seen it so bad.

“What we are experiencing – Southport under siege – is not appropriate or acceptable,” he said. “We have had drug addicts, alcohol-fuelled people coming up on our doorstep.

“We have called the ambos because they are fighting in the street. We have seen people overdose from drugs in the Seabank carpark.”

The Bulletin has previously reported on children as young as 12 forming part of a 100person homeless army settling on school grounds or top tourist spots like Broadwater Parklands in Southport.

Workers in Southport’s CBD have also been given duress alarms because they do not feel safe coming to and going home from work.

Mr Nicol said businesses had been forced to pay for additional fencing, roller doors, flood lights and canine patrols.

“We are finding the canine patrol is effective. It is the only thing that has been effective,” he said. “Our landlord has been very supportive and picked up a lot of the cost.”

Mr Nicol is calling for a forum of Short St businesses and property owners to find a solution. He said he had not seen one council candidate for the Southport division speak out on the issue.

“I do not call these people homeless. These are drugaffected vagrants. We are huge supporters of the homeless and have been big supporters of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.”

A Short St building manager, who did not want to be named, said tenants had decided not to renew their leases because of the problem.

She said they had been having sex on the premises, damaged a fire hydrant, broken into letterboxes to steal mail, and urinated and defecated on the building. Workers were also frequently intimidated and had taken to employing security guards.

“I have told my tenants if there is an issue call the police and tell them your life is in danger so they come quickly,” she said. “I do not know what the solution is. I feel sorry for some of them who are genuinely homeless. But there is no reason to be destructive of other people’s property.”

Queensland Police Inspector Scott Knowles, who took on responsibility for the Southport area just two weeks ago, said police were working towards a solution to the vagrancy issue. He said that included establishing a permanent Police Beat in Australia Fair by May, more foot patrols, and better co-ordination with other government agencies.

“The community concerns around are valid,” he said.

“I went down there in my first week to see what is happening. Unfortunately it is one of those complex problems.

“Police have a function to play but so do a number of agencies.”

Insp Knowles said people need to promptly report issues to the police.

Outgoing Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow played down the issue.

“It was worse when they were all around the Uniting Church,” she said. “I have hardly seen it in that area now (since they were ejected from the church compound).”