1 December 2021

Last night Port Phillip Councillors voted in favour of Cr Rhonda Clark’s motion for the Mayor to urgently request additional police to support the safety of residents, the local area traders, Victoria Police, and the Victorian community who wish to enjoy St Kilda and the beach during the summer months.

The Council supports Victoria Police and in particular the St Kilda Precinct in its role to manage antisocial behaviour, verbal abuse, physical assaults, rough sleeping, and other safety issues, but the St Kilda police branch does not have the resources or powers required to adequately manage the St Kilda beach areas when large crowds regularly visit.

Councillors have shown leadership in responding to a small percentage of people who are occasionally making St Kilda and the beach an unsafe environment which recently resulted in the horrific death of a young man after being stabbed. There have been numerous unsafe incidents whereby greater resourcing for Victoria Police is required, particularly on these peak days.

One of the Councillors acknowledged the December 2019 petition with close to 1,000 signatures presented to Council requesting Council to address community safety. The motion also addresses recent discussions between Councillors, council staff, business owners, residents, and police in relation to ongoing violent and antisocial behaviour in the City of Port Phillip.

This motion gives authority to Mayor Pearl to write to the MP for Albert Park, Martin Foley and Police Minister, Lisa Neville to urgently provide additional police resources to ensure community safety, and that St Kilda is a safe and welcoming location for all Victorians.

Councillors who voted on the motion:
FOR: Cr Bond, Cr Clark, Cr Cunsolo, Cr Pearl, Cr Sirakoff
AGAINST: Cr Baxter, Cr Copsey, Crawford, Cr Martin,