Community safety
What is community safety?
Community safety is a part of all aspects of our lives and is essential to health and wellbeing. It includes:
- improving public amenities
- increasing community wellbeing and cohesion
- increasing social and cultural inclusion
- increasing opportunities for social and physical activity
- preventing and reducing hardship and insecure housing
- preventing and reducing incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour.
What is Council’s role?
We play a role in:
- maintaining and upgrading public amenities and addressing identified blackspot issues
- activating public spaces through community grants and funding
- fostering diversity, inclusion and social connection
- fostering strong partnerships with emergency services, local traders and community groups
- activating and revitalising our highstreets
- providing supports for those experiencing hardship and insecure housing
- developing regulations to promote and maintain safety
- maintaining safe public spaces through CCTV, Local Laws and joint patrols.
Our Community Safety Plan
The Community Safety Plan outlines how we’re working towards building a safe and connected community where everyone feels safe to live, work and play.
The 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.
On 2 August 2023, Council endorsed the movement to revise and extend the Community Safety Plan and approved the development of an action plan which will set our priorities and initiatives for the next two years – until the review date of November 2025.
Read the revised Community Safety Plan (Version 1.1) here:
Upcoming safety events
The Great Safe Plate Blitz
Neighbourhood Watch is running a free opportunity to have anti-theft screws fitted to your number plate to stop number plate theft.
When: 10 am to 2 pm Saturday 4 May 2024
Where: Beach Street carpark at Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Community Safety Forum - Albert Park and Middle Park
When: 5.30 to 7 pm, Monday 27 May 2024 (PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE)
Where: Mary Kehoe Community Centre – 224 Danks St, Albert Park VIC 3206
Elder abuse community forum presented by Victoria Police
When: Monday 17 June from 10 am to 11am
Where: Community Room at the St Kilda Library, 150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda
At least one in six older Australians experience elder abuse in their lifetime. It can happen to yourself, or an older person you know. Elder abuse is a crime. Learn how to identify it and ways to keep yourself safe. In conjunction with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (15 June) and supported by the Older Persons Advisory Committee.
Bookings required. Please book at https://www.trybooking.com/CRIRJ
Please note: Each community safety forum will be specifically focused on issues related to the areas identified within the event name.
We are aware of ongoing community concerns about anti-social behaviour in Acland and Fitzroy streets and continue to work with police to address these.
If you would like to be involved in the discussion related to the St Kilda area, we encourage you to attend the corresponding forum which will be held in November.
Community Safety Forum - Elwood
When: 5.30 to 7 pm, Monday 19 August 2024
Where: Venue TBC
Community Safety Forum – Balaclava and St Kilda East
When: 5.30 to 7 pm, Monday 18 November 2024
Where: Alma Road Community House - 200 Alma Road, East St Kilda
Community Safety Month
Community Safety Month is an annual campaign held every October which aims to spotlight community safety issues through local events and initiatives.
This year, to celebrate we decided to establish a new family-friendly event called Safe and Sound Port Phillip, which seeks to connect community members with their local emergency services and Council teams.
We’re hoping that this expo will be the first of many more to come.
Safe and Sound Port Phillip 2023
Play safe. Live well. Stay connected.
We joined forces with key partners to bring our community emergency preparedness stalls, live music, a mural painting, emergency service and Council vehicles, showbags, prizes and much more.
Click on the image below to view a photo gallery from the event.
Safe and Sound Port Phillip 2023
Image credit: Media Strategy Australia.
Make a report
In most instances, your first port of call for reporting a crime or safety incident should be the Victorian Police or other emergency services.
You can report the following directly to Council via ASSIST:
- public space maintenance requests
- local health and safety issues
- pet and alcohol restriction non-compliance.
Victoria Police
If you see any dangerous or life-threatening behaviour or are in danger, call triple zero (000) immediately. If the situation is non-urgent, then you can contact the Police Assistance Line - which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week - on 131 444 or via their online platform.
ASSIST
You can call on 03 9209 6777 or make a report via our online platform.