Vote against crime
Port Phillip's criminal incident rate is 56% higher
than the Victorian average.
Criminal damage has increased 23.6% in 12 months.
Council claims “this is not a problem of council”.
Source: Crime Statistics Agency & Council Ordinary Meeting 17 July 2024
The Victorian State Government has failed residents, businesses and community groups on crime in the City of Port Phillip. Vital police services are under-resourced. Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency shows Port Phillip’s Criminal Incident Rate at 8,884 incidents compared with the Victorian rate of 5,686 for the year ending March 2024. [Source: https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics/latest-crime-data-by-area accessed 21 July 2024].
Specifically, Street/Lane/Footpath criminal incidents have increased 6.6% from 2,738 in 2023 to 2,919 in 2024. Theft from a motor vehicle has increased 4.4% from 1,894 in 2023 to 1,976 in 2024. Other theft has increased 12.8% from 1,000 in 2023 to 1,128 in 2024. And criminal damage has increased a whopping 23.6% from 687 in 2023 to 849 in 2024. In addition to this, only 24.2% of investigated criminal incidents resulted in a status of Charges laid.
Worryingly, despite the statistics and lived experience of residents, businesses and community groups, the current Port Phillip Council only mentions Crime four times across all Volumes of its Year 4 Council Plan 2021-2031. Of those four, one is related to cyber crime, a further two relate to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and finally there is mention of shared responsibility with residents, visitors and traders to report crime. The status of these are listed as Business As Usual (BAU) with no new initiatives or funding.
Only 71% of residents felt a sense of safety and security in Port Phillip in 2021/2022 with figures for 2022/2023 listed as Not available. [Source: City of Port Phillip Council Plan 2021-31 Volume 1 / Year 4 p.23]
The Community Safety Plan 2019-2025 refers to partnership with Victoria Police, however, there is a pervasive view in the current council that “this is not a problem of council. It’s a problem for police and other services that is not council”. [Source: City of Port Phillip Council Ordinary Meeting 17 July 2024, 6:30pm]
Driving out crime in Albert Park, Middle Park and St Kilda West requires a collaborative, functioning approach where Local and State Government, along with related social entities, work together rather than finger pointing to alleviate responsibility.
Currently, the City of Port Phillip does not have any policies and programs relating to crime as their focus is on community safety and public amenity. [Source: Email from CoPP Community Safety Lead 13 August 2024]
That’s why I’ve researched and developed a suite of practical local government policies to help us drive out crime from Port Phillip.
lauren@laurensherson.com.au
0435 990 869
Explore establishment of Neighbourhood Watch Groups across Albert Park, Middle Park and St Kilda West
Like my neighbours, crime affects my life, my property and my day-to-day decisions. It’s not good enough for Council to point the finger and alleviate responsibility.
Council must step up and play their part in driving out crime in Albert Park, Middle Park and St Kilda West.
If I am elected I will introduce practical policies and programs specifically related to crime including:
Expand City Amenity teams to patrol Albert Park, Middle Park and St Kilda West at peak crime hours during darkness
Subsidise home security cameras for residents with register of locations with Victoria Police
Publish monthly crime statistics and initiatives in Divercity newsletter
Host dedicated crime virtual town halls in each of the nine new Council Wards
Let’s chat
Every Tuesday
DUNDAS & FAUSSETT 10 - 11am
Driving out crime
Every Wednesday
HECTOR’S CORNER 10 - 11am
MIDDLE PARK BOWLS CLUB 5 - 6pm
Every Thursday
GASWORKS DOG PARK 5 - 5:30pm
lauren@laurensherson.com.au
0435 990 869
Let’s chat
Authorised by L Sherson 60 Richardson St Albert Park 3206
(c) Lauren Sherson 2024