Street patrol promise
One hundred city guardians would patrol trouble hotspots like Oxford St and Kings Cross under a Liberal Party policy designed to win the 13 September council election.
Mayoral candidate Shayne Mallard said 100 hand-picked citizens would roam the city in marked vans, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and homophobic violence on the streets under the $10 million a year proposal.
But the plan has failed to get the blessing of Surry Hills police with acting Crime Manager David Weekes warning it could have dangerous ramifications.
To say that you’re going to put them into troubled areas really indicates that they would be intended as a quasi police group, which is not something that would be desired by us, Weekes told Sydney Star Observer.
We’d be concerned about the charter they would be given by whoever was paying them and we’d also have concerns about who was responsible for tasking them.
Independents councillor Phillip Black lambasted the heavy handed proposal as an outright disgrace,
It appears that Mallard wants to fight violence with violence in an ill-conceived plan which will only inflame the situation, Black said.
His other opponents, including Labor’s Meredith Burgmann and Greens Chris Harris also dismissed the plan as overly militant and an opportunistic grab for votes.
But Mallard said residents now expected direct intervention into city security matters by the city council.
Left wing critics are already claiming the city guardians are a vigilante response to a state government responsibility, but residents and ratepayers are tired of buck-passing and are now calling for real action from this capital city council, he said.
Obviously we have some experience in training rangers but we’d take advice on training and selection criteria from police and security firms.
I’d been warned of police resistance but I think that has more to do with the trade unions.
Ideally the state government would double the number of police, or the council would be allowed to fund more police, but it seems there are obstacles being put up to that so I’ve come up with this plan which is really just a beefing up of the existing rangers, with a stronger security role which won’t be at all unlike what goes on at Westfield or the football ground.
First thing I wanted to say was: “Liberal Party”… ick!
Secondly… I’m hearing Homer Simpson in my head: “we’re here, we’re clear- we don’t want anymore bears!” Surely, this new vigilante is not the way to deal with this problem, which unlike the bear in springfield, is a serious one… Maybe they should give more money to the cops to hire more police officers and do a better job.
Oh yeah, and one more thing “100 hand picked citizens” sounds to me a lot like cityrails introduction of transit officers… and how useful have they proved to be??
Not to forget Wilson Tuckey, Chris, who wanted HIV+ cases quarantined back in the 80’s. As I recall, he said they deserved HIV because they were all committing ‘unnatural acts.” But I guess we are getting off topic now.
Dave , the defensiveness of gay and lesbian people who support the liberal party is to be expected . Why wouldn’t they cop a lot of flack from the majority of gay and lesbian members of the community.The liberal party when in power did absolutely nothing to make us equal members of society. Some of their senior cabinet ministers and /or powerbrokers were downright homophobic and /or hostile -think Peter ( you gays are lucky you are not locked up in this country)Costello or Howard’s favourite henchman Senator Bill (no pooftas)Heffernan .I have no doubt the majority of liberal voters ARE accepting of gay people,it is the liberal party which is the problem and Mallard represents the liberal party.Mallard should look to cleaning up his own back yard ( the liberal party )before he can expect anything but contempt from the vast majority of gay and lesbian citizens for whom the liberal party represents oppression , discrimination and homophobia .Dave there is no doubt where the real bigots can be found they are in many cases cherished members of the liberal party.
This is one of the best ideas I’ve heard from a politician lately (although i know that isn’t saying much!!). I am sick of feeling unsafe on oxford street and good on Mallard for coming up with this. So what if he’s a Liberal? In my experience, most liberal voters are a lot more accepting of gay people than the gay elite is of those within the gay community who don’t share their political opinions!!
Some people need to ask themselves: who are the real bigots here?
So many candidate proposals and platitudes of support. But it’s too little, too late.
A stronger focus on development applications seems more on the money. It’s a given that the grubby businesses dominating lower Oxford Street are causing most of the problems -“ many creating a 24/7 cest-pool for yobs. Sure, Oxford Street might be considered a -˜commercial zone’, but it’s residents in surrounding streets and queer punters on the strip who are paying the price.
A sticker stating the obvious isn’t the answer.
Proposed bandaid solutions like this appear to be no more than a last minute bid for our vote. We need a multidisciplinary approach with practical measures -“ and we need them yesterday!
Close that nasty Hungry Jacks down. Close Aportos down. And send the rogue clubs and their unruly patrons on their way -“ preferably somewhere more manageable than next door to Stonewell Hotel. And do we really need so many convenience stores and two-dollar shops? One on every corner is more than enough.
Regulate and monitor parking in surrounding streets, install more effective CCTV operations with improved lighting. Maybe even erect signs saying something like: “This area is under 24/7 camera surveillance – disorderly behaviour and crime will not be tolerated. Offenders will be prosecuted. The idea of -˜emergency buttons’ in known homophobic hot spots also sounds like a good idea. And perhaps most importantly -“ get police back on the streets. It’s their job!
By continuing to monitor and regulate licensees with the city’s late trading premises development control plan (DCP) and by adopting a more holistic approach, we might even entice GLBT businesses or those likely to better serve the local community back into the area.
But we know all of this. Seeing something done about it is another matter -“ and it’s long overdue!
Well Chris, I wish I could say that either of the major parties had shown support for gay and lesbian rights. But to the point, there’s a council election on Sep 13 and all the contenders are rolling out the hyperbole to gain glbqti support. The ‘homophobia-free zone’ rhetoric was first mooted by acon CEO Clayton and picked up by Moore ( and announced by gay independent councillor Black). It’s in contrast to Labor’s plan for venues to develop ‘a homophobia management plan’ and Mallard’s street patrol notion. Personally, I think it’s all a lot of meaningless words and nothing will change. As I pointed out above, there are a lot of real changes that need to be made to ensure our basic right to live and recreate in peace and safety.
I know I shouldn’t ‘LOL’ Oliver but you do have a point. Then again, Clover’s letterhead looks like a still from ‘The L Word.’ Oh dear, gay men are not shallow, are they?
Well, they used to do it, Another Chris. That’s why no video game arcades opened on Oxford St in the ’90s, despite their operators wishing to do so.
Shayne read my post…i said Mallard belongs to a PARTY that has been fanning homophobia for years ….. is this not a true statement? I did not say that Mallard himself has been fanning the flames of homophobia for years !!
As for the ‘homophobia free zone’ ..it is not just about stickers! it will be backed up by strong action by council such as revoking venue’s late night trading licences if they fail to police / educate their patrons around the issue of homophobia or if their patrons are responsible for homophobic abuse or attacks.
In most council areas, development applications have to consider the pre-exisitng local environment – try building red brick flats in a federation street. So why not have similar controls on lower oxford and surrounding streets?
Our Council should impose a stong bias in favour of venues, shops and other traders which serve the local community, have a gay and lesbian flavour or some other connection with the history and flavour we want in the once-Golden Mile.
Councils are players in development, not passive victims – Clover’s team inherited a far from perfect situation but they have presided over it getting immeasurably worse. It is far too late to disavow responsibility.
In the coming council elections we need strong, clear proposals to clean up the strip once and for all – and they better be implemented quickly and completely – no more 30 month delays for “consultation”.
That photo of Shayne looks like a scene from “Leave it to Beaver”
‘…is Phillip Black suddenly the spokesperson on all things gay for Clover Moore’? No Shayne Mallard, that’s our Gary B. :) I’m also wondering what it will mean for my rights if I step outside of Clover’s (and Stevie’s)’zone’. But seriously, I think if we want to keep it real, there are LOTS of practical changes that can be effected. I’d like to see some prosecutions from the cctv upgrades that are supposed to feature a more powerful zoom and low light capacity, which gives a clearer, sharper picture and is monitored live 24-hours a day. I’d also like to see some ‘have you seen this person’ type photo’s of the perps in the media. I’d like to see cops back on the beat and more CCTV warning and awareness signs including in venues to remind peeps and creeps that they are being filmed. It’s also obvious where the cameras should be pointing. Instead of giving a council shop to acon for yet another failed venture, we also need a late night police front in the midst of the Oxford Street clubs or at Taylor Square. I’d also like to see the idea of private security squads funded by the venues investigated further and maybe ‘panic phones’ like they have on train station platforms.
“100 hand-picked citizens would roam the city in marked vans, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and homophobic violence on the streets”? Um, isn’t that what the police are supposed to be doing? It’s all very well for the Surry Hills Crime Manager to crap on the idea, but if his own service isn’t doing the job, and they’re not, then somebody needs to; before the street violence ends in a death. GenQ had a similar plan for ‘Street Angels’ last year until the usual community bullies stopped them. Besides, the Public Safety Services suggested are not exactly unique, lots of big cities have them. I’ve never voted Lib in my life, but after years of this community crying for help against the street violence, it’s only got worse and the best Clover and her friends could come up with is a sticker. As for the cost, I can think of a dozen projects and orgs. that waste $10mill. a year with ease – money is not the issue.
ps. Chris, to suggest that Mallard, an openly gay man “has been fanning the flames of homophobia for years” is a bit rich.
Independents councillor Phillip Black lambasted the heavy handed proposal as an -œoutright disgrace,
-œIt appears that Mallard wants to fight violence with violence in an ill-conceived plan which will only inflame the situation, Black said.
Where is Clover on this?????
Why is Phillip Black suddenly the spokesperson on all things gay for Clover Moore – he is not running for Lord Mayor. Clover Moore MP should be explaining why my proposal will not work and why she (not Phillip) has blocked my every move to increase security resources for Oxford Street. I guess they are still relying on the laughable ‘homophobia free zone’ signs. Is Clover now too good for us and above the debate?
Mallard is a joke ! He belongs to a party that has been fanning the flames of homophobia for years…now he wants to call in the water tankers to put out the fire !!!!
I do wonder how anyone with the genuine best interests of Sydney at heart could seriously vote for a man who clings stubbornly to a risky costly plan — a plan implicated by local police crime management as being inappropriate and overreaching — that places security in the hands of an elite squad of private citizens.
It is stunts like this that depict Mallard as unready for the responsibility of becoming Sydney Lord Mayor.
Hilarious! Does he think he’s Clint Eastwood?
By the way Philip Black is not independent he works for The Clover Moore Party.
Barry, you obviously don’t know the difference between vigilante and guardian. What Mallard is proposing is no different to the security personnel you find in shopping centres. Gay bashings have risen dramatically under Clover’s watch. Her solution, put up a sticker. This is good policy and I am voting Mallard.
Doesnt Mallard get it??? Violence begets violence… Its a very simple equasion. I cant believe that he would countenance the idea of vigilianties (no matter how well meaning) roaming the streets of the inner city. And he plans to spend millions on this hairbrain scheme. It is becoming increasing clear that Mallard really has lost the plot if he thinks this passes as part of a responsible policy platform!!!