Future Melbourne podcast turns to city safety with Inspector Dale Huntington

The latest episode of Future Melbourne turns to one of the most defining issues facing Melbourne right now: city safety.

Hosted by Hyperlocal News publisher and editor Sean Car, the new episode features Inspector Dale Huntington, Victoria Police’s Local Area Commander for Southbank and Melbourne East, in a wide-ranging conversation about policing, public confidence and how safety in the central city is evolving.

Safety and amenity were among the biggest issues of the 2024 City of Melbourne election, and they have only grown in prominence since. Concerns around visible disorder, theft, homelessness, drug use and the general “feel” of the city have become central to how residents, workers and visitors talk about Melbourne.

This episode of Future Melbourne digs into those questions in detail, but without the usual noise.

Huntington brings a rare combination of frontline and policy experience to the discussion. He oversees one of Victoria’s most high-profile and operationally complex policing districts, covering Southbank and Melbourne East, and previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. His career has also included senior roles around major event policing, from the Australian Open and AFL to the Spring Racing Carnival.

That background makes him well placed to speak not just about crime statistics, but about how the city works, how public order is managed, and what kind of safety model Melbourne now needs.

The conversation covers a broad range of issues, including the difference between perception and reality when it comes to city crime, the complexity of policing the CBD, and the role of visible operations such as Operation Harmony, which has recently expanded across the city. It also explores retail theft, transport hub hotspots, nightlife, repeat offending, homelessness, mental health, CCTV, protests and the growing role of council in the broader safety mix.

Importantly, the episode also looks at the relationship between Victoria Police and the City of Melbourne’s Community Safety Officer program, which is now set to expand further under the council’s draft budget. Huntington’s perspective is likely to be of strong interest as debate continues over how police, outreach teams and council officers can work together in a coordinated way.

As with previous episodes, the aim of Future Melbourne is not simply to react to headlines, but to provide a more thoughtful and informed conversation about the forces shaping the city.

Earlier episodes have focused on Queen Victoria Market, the central city economy, Docklands, housing, and Arden-Macaulay, with guests including Matt Elliott, Stephen Mayne, Jamal Hakim, Rob Pradolin and Rohan Leppert. The new discussion with Huntington adds another key city-shaping theme to the growing series.

For anyone interested in where Melbourne is heading and how the city can remain both safe and liveable, this shapes as one of the podcast’s most timely episodes yet.

The latest episode of Future Melbourne is available online now, with the full video also available to watch on YouTube.