Call for more police as St Kilda becomes ‘quite dangerous’

St Kilda traders say anti-social behaviour in the suburb is getting worse and a stronger police presence is urgently needed.

Footage obtained by the Herald Sun shows drug users loading up needles inside a laundromat, and a fight breaking out on Acland Street.

City of Port Phillip Councillor Andrew Bond says behaviour in the area is “getting quite dangerous”.

He says the council is receiving “almost daily” reports about problems and residents and traders desperately want an increased police presence in the area.

“Either you have a law and order response here or you have a health response here, but one of those two responses is definitely required,” Councillor Bond said.

“We need the police to work with council and work with some of these other local wrap around services.”

Press PLAY below to hear what Cr Bond wants to see happen in St Kilda

Convener of Friends of St Kilda Hill, Darren Robinson, says more support services need to be provided to people in St Kilda with substance abuse and mental health issues.

“There’s a lot of people out there who are suffering and they’re being left on their own to suffer,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“The first thing I would do is go out and help these people who need to be helped, rather than ignore them.

“We have some problems and these problems are not being effectively fixed and it’s due to … the way in which government has tackled mental health.”

Press PLAY below to hear what Mr Robinson thinks must happen in St Kilda