A new petition is asking the Melbourne City Council to remove security guards who are targeting homeless people in the C-B-D area.

The Homeless Persons Union of Victoria claims this is a violation of human rights and labels homeless people as criminals.

The City Council says it’s part of a 4-year plan of making Melbourne ‘the best and fairest city’ with $2 million dedicated to employ security guards.

Statement from Melbourne City Council:

Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Nick Reece

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our city, and everyone deserves a roof over their head.”
“Over the past two years, there have been almost 40 incidents of occupational violence directed at our staff – that is simply unacceptable.”
“We have a duty of care to our people. That’s why we engaged security guards on a trial basis to provide additional support.”
“A key requirement in selecting a provider was that their staff had extensive training and experience in working with vulnerable people.”
“During the trial, our officers reported feeling safer when dealing with potentially violent situations, and we also saw a reduction in street drinking and begging.”
“We’re always open to feedback to make sure our approach supports the community.”

Background

During our 14-week pilot, officers reported feeling safer when responding to violent situations and observed a noticeable reduction in public begging and street drinking.

Across the trial, officers engaged with the community more than 1,500 times, including 100 incidents of verbal or physical violence. Importantly, they felt safer with security officers present, and more than 50 people were referred to support services.

The trial has directly informed the creation of our new Community Safety team – who will undergo comprehensive training so they can safely and respectfully address complex on-street issues and behaviours.

From late October, 11 new roles – including community safety officers, supervisors and a coordinator – will be out on Melbourne’s streets, helping to keep our city safe and welcoming for everyone.

All officers will undergo comprehensive training in trauma-informed engagement, mental health and substance use awareness, cultural safety, and family and gendered violence prevention.

The new Community Safety Officers will also work closely with Victoria Police and other specialist services to improve safety across the city.

Image: Photo by Somi Jaiswal on Unsplash

Produced By: Eduardo Jordan

Featured In Story: Patrick Chiappalone – Founding member of the Homeless Persons Union of Victoria

First aired on The Wire, Friday 26 September 2025