Family, Youth & Children

We need to feel safe

We feel safe in our homes, schools, children’s centres and having people and pets we know nearby.

‘I feel safe at my house in my garden’ (age 4)
‘I feel safe at home. When I’m sleeping…’ (age 5)
‘I feel safe when there’s a teacher around’ (age 4)
‘I feel safe with Daisy (my girl dog) and Splashy (my boy dog) – he’s a bit bigger than Daisy – at home’ (age 5)
‘(Where) there are plenty of lights at places, so we can see where we are going’ (age 8)
‘(Where) there aren’t any dangerous chemicals within children’s reach’ (age 9)

Kids’ Suggestions	Grownups’ Actions
Build fences or gates around parks and playgrounds where we can play and feel safe. ‘I feel safe when there are gates around.’ (age 4)	We will fence play spaces that are close to major roads but we need to consider people who have a disability who may have difficulty in entering through gates in fences.
More lighting in streets, parks and at the end of Fitzroy Street. ‘Need better lighting – eg. where there are big trees at end of Fitzroy Street’ (age 10) ‘At night there should be more street lights to light the way’ (age 10) ‘There are a few scary places because of they are too dark’ (age 4)	We are improving lighting in parks, streets and beach areas such as Sandridge Beach and Murphy Reserve pathways and in the upgrade of five parks, to make it safer for everyone to walk in their neighbourhood. Most street lights within the City of Port Phillip are owned and maintained by the electrical distribution companies CitiPower and United Energy.. Residents are informing council on areas needing improved street lighting. Council officers will then inspect the street and decide how lighting can be improved.
Fix the problems of drugs and alcohol. ‘There are heaps of drugs around the area and they’re causing heaps of strange people around. Please, Please, Please try and put a stop to it’ (age 9) ‘Less drugs and alcohol on Acland Street at night’ (age 8)	We are helping those affected by drug and alcohol abuse with rehabilitation programmes. We have a partnership with local police and licensees to promote safety around licensed premises and public places.
Help us to feel safe around ‘strangers’ in our communities. ‘In our community, X and I reckon that there are too many strangers around Port Phillip and most importantly around our school. They hang around the tram stations and when we pass it feels uncomfortable to be around them. Strangers set a bad example for children and do not act appropriately and I have thought of a solution. You do not have to use this advice as some people might have thought of better ideas. Our idea is to build a small house or business to provide the people with shaving and some second hand clothes. (age 9)	You will always see people in our city who are visitors and you do not know. Some who are homeless and others affected by drugs and alcohol walking along our streets. They need to travel on public transport and visit drop in centres for help. If their behaviour frightens you, find an adult that you trust to help you.
Close all strip clubs like Club X ‘No strip clubs like Club X (age 8)	All clubs in our city must operate within very strict rules about such things as serving of alcohol, training for staff, music, closed circuit television. Together with the police, we make sure that these rules are kept.
Keep along the Elwood Canal safe for us to visit. ‘When you’re riding along the canal it is slightly going down and when you make a two-way lane your can fall into the canal.’ (age 12) ‘You could build a fence along the canal so people couldn’t fall in.’ (age 12)	We are working with other organisations to reduce the amount of litter that enters the canal and pollutes the water so as to improve the water quality We are planning to complete the Elwood Canal path. We will work towards resolving areas of conflict with vehicles and pedestrians. Consult with kids along the way to ensure that their visions remains at the forefront when planning Asset Services continue to work with Melbourne Water to clean up Elwood Canal.
Make our beaches safe for us to play ‘At St Kilda beach there is a new structure. I really like it but teenage skaters skate there. I get nervous when they are near me and I don’t think it’s a good atmosphere for the beach’ (age 10) ‘There are syringes on Elwood and St Kilda beaches.’ (age 11 & 12)	We have life savers who patrol the beaches from Station to St Kilda Pier. In summer there are some beaches where dogs are not allowed.
Find ways of dealing with inappropriate behaviour such as drunkenness, loud music and people urinating in certain areas. ‘Drunk people’ (age 11) Drunk people who swear and threaten other people’ (age 9) ‘People swearing under the bridge at the skate park’ (age 8) ‘Beggars in Bay Street’ (Port Melbourne) (age 9) ‘I don’t like the silly people when I’m sleeping at the night they scream outside my home.’ (age 5) ‘I live in Grosvenor St in Balaclava. It is really nice but on some holidays they are really loud and disturbing. They are usually good but when they are noisy they are really noisy’ (age 9)) About Fitzroy Street 10 & 11 years ‘Alleyway bins set alight & illegal fireworks in alleyway scared me in bed’ ‘Halloween scary; people throwing things’ ‘Should have undercover cops… not in uniform to come to assistance of people who are being bashed up in laneways or on the street’ ‘Taxi hailing a good idea, especially if people drunk’ ‘Alcohol…no 24 hour access’ ‘Drinking and music creates noise’ ‘Kids can’t sleep… We hear people coming out of clubs drunk. They go down the alley which is outside my house’ ‘2am lockouts a good idea’	We are working with the Victorian Police, Liquor Licensing Victoria, local businesses and residents to find ways of solving these very serious problems. We are encouraging smaller venues, training staff and those working in bars, having camera surveillance and strict rules about live and amplified music. Council officers work together with the police in streets and at events where there may be lots of people so that anyone who is behaving in a dangerous way or disturbing others can be stopped.
Have security cameras ‘More security cameras for graffiti artists.’ (age 10) ‘Install cameras in the Skate Park’ (age 9) ‘Cameras [CCTV] good idea… and warning signs and penalties’ (age 10)	There are a number of shops and businesses that are now installing security cameras. We will take your suggestion to a meeting of council officers to discuss this way of helping you to feel safe.