Community Safety Officers hit Melbourne’s streets as council unveils $2m patrol program

The City of Melbourne’s new Community Safety Officers (CSOs) began patrolling inner-city hotspots on November 3, with Lord Mayor Nick Reece declaring the 11-member team a “big step” towards a safer and more welcoming city.

Speaking alongside councillors Rafael Camillo and Gladys Liu, Cr Reece said the uniformed officers would provide a visible presence across known trouble spots and neighbourhoods including Elizabeth St South, Bourke St, Swanston St, Carlton, Docklands and Southbank.

“We want a Melbourne where every person feels safe and every person can be safe,” the Lord Mayor said. 

Cr Reece said the CSOs were authorised officers of the City of Melbourne with powers to enforce local laws, issue directions and, where necessary, make arrests.

“They absolutely can make arrests and, importantly, they are trained and equipped to do so,” he said, adding that powers cover “anti-social and aggressive behaviour, and consumption of alcohol or drugs in public places”.

Officers will patrol seven days a week, working 11-hour shifts to align with peak periods. They will wear protective vests and body-worn cameras and carry handcuffs.

The Lord Mayor stressed CSOs were not a replacement for police and did not have investigative powers.

The program drew more than 600 applications for the 11 roles, with many successful candidates bringing experience from policing and corrections.

“We’ve had six weeks of intensive training,” Cr Reece said, citing modules in de-escalation, trauma-informed practice and mental health. “Sometimes the question will be, ‘Hey, what are you up to?’ – most of the time it will be, ‘do you need help?’”

During an earlier trial involving two security officers, the City recorded 1500 incidents managed and more than 50 people connected with support services.

However, as reported by CBD News, homeless people, legal services and community health organisations raised concerns over the behaviour of the security guards, alleging that they had intimidated people begging and sleeping rough.

The council has allocated about $2 million to launch the program, covering equipment, training, salaries and oversight. Cr Reece said the CSOs were designed to work “hand-in-glove” with Victoria Police, complementing the council’s Safe City Camera operations. 

He also confirmed the City was doubling its camera network to 100 over the next 12 months.

The rollout will be reviewed after six months and again after 12 months. “If more resources are needed, they will be there,” he said. •