Lygon Street traders worry about rising crime

Property crimes, including theft and arson, increased from 676 to 823, and public order violations, including possession of weapons and explosives, increased from 49 in 2017 to 80 last year.

Drug offenses were the only category to see a decline from 47 in 2017 to 43 last year.

Marco Donnini, owner of Lygon Street restaurant Donnini’s, said the rise in crime was affecting the popular street.

“It’s the fear of something being violent,” he said. “At any stage there is a fear that something is going to happen.

Donnini believed the closure of Carlton Police Station in 2010, leaving the nearest police station in North Melbourne, had increased problems on the street.

“There is an awareness of organized crime in the streets. People will feel safer if crime is organized,” he said. “I never saw it as bad.”

Sbardella and other traders are calling for more police and CCTV cameras to be installed in the area to combat crime.

Phillip Mansour, executive director of the Carlton Company, a local traders association, said he regularly hears from traders concerned about crime in the area.

“We have been calling for CCTV for several years, but the City of Melbourne’s last budget did not include the ability to meet that need,” he said.

“We have worked with the Victoria Police Department who have been very responsive, but have limited staff available to beat.”

But Lynn Cracknell of the Carlton Residents Association said residents only want police and council action when the safety and security of residents, businesses and visitors are at risk. .

“The association would rather have the council address the cause than the symptoms on our behalf,” she said.

Chief Sergeant Carl Whibley said police regularly ran special operations throughout Carlton and were out in the Lygon Street area every Friday and Saturday night.

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“Police have also had recent activity in the area focused on other key areas of interest to communities and business owners, such as graffiti and crime victims,” ​​he said.

“Carlton is a remarkably safe neighborhood. We don’t have many problems here, but we know that a single incident can have far-reaching effects on a community’s sense of safety. It is important that people feel safe when they want to enjoy the nightlife.”

Chief Mayor Sally Cap said Melbourne had 220 CCTV cameras, but Carlton had none.

“We are doing everything we can to keep our city safe for residents, workers and visitors. Whether it is brightening up our streets, installing new bollards or upgrading our CCTV network, I do,” she said.

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