Frequently Asked Questions on Community Safety

Safe and vibrant communities are important to everyone's health and wellbeing. The current Community Safety Plan contains three key priority areas:

• Creating safe spaces – we aim to ensure that our public spaces – including streets, bike paths and corridors, entertainment precincts, foreshore and parks - are safe and well-maintained.
• Building resilience – we aim to foster diversity, inclusion, connection and resilience for all members of the community, including the most vulnerable.
• Healthy living – we aim to support a diverse and vibrant entertainment economy while reducing incidents of harm.

Maintaining a safe community is a shared responsibility and community safety is a very broad topic and involves a range of different factors and issues. Some of these areas are the direct responsibility of Council, some are outside of Council’s remit but might have local impacts and some aspects are external and addressed by organisations outside of Council. City of Port Phillip works collaboratively with federal, state, community service organisations, business owners, and community members to continually improve safety in our municipality.

Victoria Police is responsible for public safety, law enforcement and crime prevention. Their responsibilities include:

• responding to calls for personal and public safety, emergencies, and serious incidents.
• work to prevent crime through proactive community safety programs.
• investigate offences.
• provide visible presence within the community and at major events.

Federal and state governments are responsible for law and order, public health, public housing, public transport and emergency management. There are legislative requirements that outline these responsibilities.

Council’s local law officers can issue warnings, Notices to Comply and infringement notices to people or organisations who breach the Local Law. The Local Law officers conduct daily patrols at key locations throughout the municipality and can address amenity issues such as clearing obstructed pathways and removing abandoned belongings. If they come across people sleeping rough, they will offer to connect vulnerable people to relevant service providers for further support. They do not have the legal power to move people on or respond to criminal behaviour. That responsibility lies with the Victoria Police who have the relevant training and equipment to manage such issues.

Public places can be designed to discourage criminal activity by ensuring there is more chance for offenders to be seen, challenged, or caught; reducing opportunities for criminal activity; and creating a need for more effort to commit a crime, with limited rewards. This approach is referred to as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).

Spaces that are inviting and appealing, have good lighting, clear lines of sight, and a sense of ownership by the community can help people to feel safe, and prevent crime. All space, even if well planned and well-designed, need to be effectively used and maintained to maximise community safety.

Council works toward this through upgrading public infrastructure such as bike corridors, footpaths, parks, and signage. Council also has a focus on improving and maintaining a high standard of lighting across the city. Further, Council has a program of street activation, festivals and events, and supported community activities.

Council has CCTV cameras across 4 areas in the municipality. CCTV cameras are one tool that is used to prevent crime. While Council is responsible for the infrastructure of the CCTV camera system, Victoria Police are responsible for the day-to-day operations and monitoring of the network. Council does not have access to the images or videos from the cameras and Victoria Police owns all the footage. More information can be found here: Closed-circuit television (CCTV)

If you are feeling unsafe or there is a crime or safety incident, then the first point of call should be Victoria Police or other emergency services. Non-urgent crimes and events can be reported to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. To report non-urgent crime information confidentially you can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Council should be called for public space maintenance requests, local health and safety issues, and alcohol restriction non-compliance.

In the City of Port Phillip there are a number of service providers who can assist people with insecure housing. For more details, please refer to the Housing and homelessness support services page. Council does not offer a homelessness service but provides information and guidance on where people experiencing homelessness can find further support. Council has also contributed funding to a number of social housing projects including Wellington Street Common Ground Project. 

There are many services that offer support and information to support someone to secure accommodation quickly and work towards longer term housing. Many of the crisis support agencies are available for drop in contact or can be reached by phone to make an appointment, some also are open after hours. For their details see below:

Salvation Army 1800 627 727

Sacred Heart Mission 03 9537 1166

Launch Housing 1800 825 955

No, we are not proposing to fine people who are experiencing homelessness. While infringements are one of the only tools we have to encourage compliance with Council Local Laws, we always take an ask, tell, enforce approach to cases, to ensure we give people a chance to understand what they are required to do and to do this as soon as possible. As outlined in the Council reports tabled at the 21 May Council meeting, it is not recommended that amendments to the Local Law result in issuing fines to people experiencing homelessness.

No. Council officers, including Local Law officers, are not authorised to move people on from a public place. Council’s Local Laws officers are authorised to issue warnings, Notices to Comply and infringement notices to people and organisations who breach the Local Law. They may impound items, goods, or equipment in relation to a breach. They do not have the legal power to move people on or respond to criminal behaviour.

Victoria Police are the only authority that can respond to breaches of the Summary Offences Act and can give directions to "move on" when they believe the individual "is likely to breach the peace" or "is likely to endanger the safety of another person".

The potential amendment allows for an area to be designated as a no encampment area if:

• the amenity of the Council land or the amenity of land in the vicinity of the Council land is or is likely to be adversely affected; or
• the safety or welfare of a person is or is likely to be put at risk by three or more persons congregating on Council land with the intention or apparent intention of camping or sleeping there.

This would only be a last resort following support services being offered around housing, mental health and drug and alcohol support, if these actions were not successful in reducing the impact of the encampment this clause could be considered.

Enforcement of the potential amendment would not include fines, but instead, the removal and impoundment of equipment following provision of outreach and support services, where individuals have refused both a request and then warning to remove the material from the designated area.

Merri-bek and Port Phillip are the only councils with an exemption for rough sleepers to their Camping on Public Land Local Law. Melbourne has a protocol with Victoria Police around dealing with community safety issues.

Most other Councils have homelessness protocols, guidelines or alliances to support people experiencing homelessness without issuing infringements as a primary method of enforcement.

Each Council has discretion on how to apply their Local Laws, and most primarily focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and removing items obstructing access to public spaces.

It is not recommended that Council remove the exemption across all public spaces, as Council’s legal advice is that the amendments proposed by Council in the resolution in February 2025 (as outlined above) may not contradict State legislation but are unlikely to achieve their intended purpose because of doubt over whether camping is, in fact, interfering with the reasonable enjoyment of others. Any enforcement action therefore risks being overturned at court.

Complete removal of the exemption would also then apply to any individual person sleeping rough, rather than specifically target the issue of encampments that have been a primary source of concern for community members and police.

A protocol between Council, police, and service providers would ensure rough sleepers are given the opportunity to seek assistance from welfare organisations before not being allowed to camp at a particular location. Local Laws officers would support police in removing any items which assist an encampment or living arrangement. Moving people on is not a matter for Local Laws and falls under state legislation. Further discussions about the role of police if an area is designated as no camping would be undertaken in developing the protocol. Property left behind by rough sleepers at a designated no camping area would be impounded by Council to keep public spaces unimpeded, clean, and safe. Personal or valuable items can be stored upon request. We are very careful to not throw away any valuable or personal items and have a process for storing and returning property.

All Council Local Laws are implemented by the CEO and officers, once endorsed by Council.

This delegation would not be made, however, without discussions with stakeholders, especially the police, as part of a protocol.

The objective of the protocol is to build on existing practices seeking to ensure that council and community services are delivering a coordinated, targeted response to connect individuals to housing, mental health and drug and alcohol service providers.

It will define processes, roles, responsibilities and pathways when encountering rough sleeping broadly and specifically when dealing with encampments.

Protocols would be developed as part of the consultation on this proposed amendment and undertaken with the community, service providers and police, then brought back to Council as part of the engagement findings.

This potential change is intended as a last resort after warnings by Council and offers of support by welfare service providers have been provided to rough sleepers.

Council prioritises care for rough sleepers and vulnerable members of our community, through a range of support services and partnerships. More information on these services and the Port Phillip Zero project can be found on the Homelessness page. This potential amendment relates only to a situation where community safety and amenity is being impacted and is focused only on encampments – where three or more rough sleepers are gathered.

This potential change is intended as a last resort after warnings by Council and offers of support by welfare service providers have been provided to rough sleepers. Alongside this potential amendment, Council will be engaging with key stakeholders and the community on a range of recommendations from the Community Safety Roundtable aimed at reducing and providing better support to rough sleepers.

We have received legal advice that the potential amendment does not conflict with the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. You can view this legal advice here. The Charter recognises that in some circumstances one person’s right may come into conflict with the right of another person or group. In these circumstances it can be necessary to limit or restrict these rights. This will be further investigated if the amendment progresses to consultation.

Ian Gray AM was asked by Council to chair the Community Safety Roundtable based on his experience. Ian is a long-time Port Phillip resident and brings extensive experience in the legal, justice, and community sectors. He served as Victoria’s Chief Magistrate, a County Court Judge, and State Coroner. In 2021 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant contributions to law and Indigenous justice. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University. Ian has been a tireless advocate for social justice throughout his career, holding key roles in legal and community services.

Ian Gray AM to Chair Community Safety Roundtable next month.

The Roundtable was convened in response to community safety issues and concerns throughout the municipality. Specifically, it was formed after Council endorsed a motion on 11 December 2024 including:

That Council:

1. Reaffirms its commitment to a safe, liveable and just community.

2. Requests that City of Port Phillip initiate a round table of key stakeholders, incorporating the City of Port Phillip, health, housing, community legal and social service providers, Victoria Police and other relevant stakeholders or recognised expertise to examine the current situation and review place-based models to address community safety issues in our high streets and surrounding areas.

3. Requests that the round table:

a) Provide advice and case studies from other jurisdictions on community outreach models and consider opportunities to ensure best practice in the City of Port Phillip.

b) Provide advice and case studies from other Council jurisdictions on how Local Laws can be used to provide community safety and protect the amenity of public spaces within the City of Port Phillip. The advice is to include consideration of Police protocols and operations with the City of Melbourne and their applicability to the City of Port Phillip.

c) Review the merit and feasibility of establishing an ongoing alliance to continue this work over the next four years.

d) Provide recommendations to Council on the above within the short and long-term.

4. Requests that the Mayor write to the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police seeking advice and recommendations on Local Laws in the City of Port Phillip, and a proposal on how any changes to the Local Laws would be used and work in practice.

5. Notes that officers have commenced work on the update of the City of Port Phillip’s Community Safety Plan including opportunities for the public to share their lived experiences in relation to community safety and that Councillors will be updated on this regularly.

More than 20 service providers and Victoria Police representatives attended the Community Safety Roundtable. The attendees were:

• First Step
• Housing First
• South Port Community Housing Group
• Launch Housing
• St Kilda Community Housing
• Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation
• Port Phillip Community Group
• Sacred Heart Mission
• Better Health Network
• Windana
• Salvation Army / Access Health
• Alfred Health
• South Port Community Legal
• Southside Justice
• Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association
• Neighbourhood Justice Centre
• Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association
• Victoria Police

The Council resolution of 11 December 2024 asked for the establishment of a roundtable with health, housing, community legal and social service providers, Victoria Police and other relevant stakeholders to examine the current situation and review models to address community safety issues in our high streets and surrounding areas. Based on this resolution, invitations were only issued to service providers and Police. Broader community engagement on community safety will take place as part of the development of the Community Safety Plan, commencing in May. The Roundtable report and recommendations have been made publicly available ahead of being tabled at the 21 May Council meeting.

Roundtable Chair, Ian Gray, met with a representative group of residents from the Plan for Port Phillip community deliberative panel, to help him understand the varied community views on this topic. He also listened to the 27 November and 11 December Council meetings where residents raised concerns about community safety in public question time.

Roundtable Chair, Ian Gray, met with members of the Business Advisory Group and trader associations in Port Phillip to gather their feedback and help him understand the trader views on community safety.

Councillors were invited to attend the final session of the Roundtable on 19 March to hear the summary of discussions from each table. These discussions contributed to the development of the recommendations.

Some operational actions will be delivered as soon as practicable. Recommendations will be considered by Council in the development of the new Community Safety Plan, alongside relevant budget requirements.