Melbourne City Council has committed $2 million to expand its Community Safety Function, placing more security officers on city streets to respond to behaviours such as public drinking and begging. While intended to enhance safety, this approach risks harming those already facing disadvantage—people experiencing homelessness, substance dependence, and mental health challenges.
VAADA believes that lasting community safety cannot be achieved through policing alone. It must be built on care, trust, and support. Evidence shows punitive measures drive people away from services, increasing stigma and risk of harm.
We are calling for a different path: one that invests in housing, alcohol and other drug services, mental health care, and harm-reduction measures such as a CBD-based Needle and Syringe Program.
Our submission to the Future Melbourne Committee outlines this vision: a city where safety is grounded in compassion, dignity, and evidence—not enforcement.