Ian Gray’s report is an informative read for anyone interested in a forensic look at community safety. Of course, a report compiled in a few weeks cannot be the last word on an entrenched problem, but it is a refreshingly honest and independent contribution.
It is also a powerful and potent memo to decision-makers in the State Government. It shows how the Council and community agencies have been doing much of the heavy lifting. It also shows that many of these services are stretched to their limit and subject to insecure funding.
Gray also documents how the police are acutely aware of the problems but are yet to be resourced to deliver the necessary attention to neighbourhood policing.
No doubt not everyone will agree with Gray’s recommendations. The location of the proposed drop-in hubs will likely be many times more complicated than the repeatedly vexed issue of locating public toilets!
Nevertheless, his recommendations are a commendable start. Let’s hope Premier Allan’s advisers are listening.
Ian Gray’s recommendations are…
More resources for neighbourhood policing
“An increase in resources by Victoria Police to the Neighbourhood Policing model, ensuring consistent police visibility on the streets of the city, particularly at hot spot streets, lanes, and car parks.”
Surprising reveal: Current neighbourhood police staffing is 4 EFT, with that allocation frequently tasked elsewhere.
More joint Police CoPP patrols, ideally daily
“An effective system of CoPP Local Laws officers and Victoria Police joint street patrols.”
Surprising reveal: Joint patrols are currently ad hoc.
An updated intervention protocol with human rights and enforcement
“Maintenance of CoPP’s commitment to a human rights-based policy approach to housing, homelessness, and mental health.”
Surprising reveal: The current operational protocols have not been updated for over a decade.
Recognising and reinforcing partnerships with community agencies
“Maintenance of the CoPP’s close collaborative/partnership model with the support sector.”
Surprising reveal: These partnerships are managed by different parts of the council, leading to a lack of accountability overall.
More support for agencies, including funding for 24/7 support
“Strengthening of key support service providers to enable expanded outreach services to their clients and greater capacity to collaborate with CoPP Local Laws officers and Victoria Police on the ground.”
Surprising reveal: Despite having an array of agencies involved, there is currently no system of 24/7 access to support available to police or CoPP officers.
More and better-targeted emergency accommodation
“An increased supply of emergency accommodation.”
Surprising reveal: The current service model allows people to fall through the cracks when they transition between systems such as leaving detox or rehab, exiting prison or remand, or moving between housing types.
Gathering places for social solutions
“Hubs and gathering places for homeless people to spend time during the day.”
Surprising reveal: Despite a plethora of existing agencies, there is no hub for social gathering with wraparound services.
Editorial comment
Truth telling needs truth hearing
Gray’s report has been informed by much more than the talk around the roundtable. He travelled with local law officers on their morning patrols three times. He met with residents and traders. He listened to powerful and emotional testimonials given at council meetings and read widely.
He has clearly heard the levels of fear about crime and the decline in perceptions of safety. He does not dismiss or downplay these concerns. But he urges us not to conflate homelessness with crime.
He understands that this was never about fining the homeless. As a former magistrate, he identifies the futility of criminalising homelessness. He heard the fact that 98 percent of such fines would go unpaid or be waived.
Instead, he supports a three-step protocol (assessment, intervention, and enforcement) that meets street people where they are, identifies their needs, offers solutions, and if anti-social behaviour persists, moves to enforcement.
He bypasses the need to change local laws to give move-on powers in favour of this three-tier protocol.
The other truth is that more resources are required for the agencies to provide the necessary interventions, especially after hours. Importantly, the police also need significantly more resources to prevent, investigate, and prosecute crime.
And these are truths that the State Government must face.
Having just four police allocated for neighbourhood policing is disappointing. Not having local crisis services available outside of office hours is equivalent to waiting until the horse has bolted. It’s not good enough.
TWiSK expects that the State will reply, as it does to most questions, that it spends more on x, y, and z than ever before. Reports like Mr. Gray’s suggest that a more outcome-focused approach is warranted.
But Gray’s overall message is that there are no easy solutions. When it comes to levels of government working together, we couldn’t agree more.
