Our role in community safety

It’s important that everybody feels safe in Stonnington, from your home and neighbourhood to local roads and public spaces.

Community safety is a shared responsibility. All levels of government, agencies, business, community organisations and residents have a role to play. Council has specific obligations around local laws, public health, safe design and placemaking. All of these are key levers for local crime prevention.

The community is reporting increasing concerns around safety across the municipality and addressing this is a top priority for us. Many actions are underway, but we have a plan to do more.

What we are doing

Actions

  • Cleaning and graffiti – Increasing after-hours cleaning and graffiti removal in Chapel Street
  • Community collaboration – Community Safety Committee, Victoria Police Neighbourhood Policing Committee, Stonnington Health and Wellbeing Reference Group and Stonnington Zero Executive, Service Coordination and Hot Spots
  • Community engagement – Consulting with residents and businesses on community safety issues
  • Community safety campaigns and education programs – 9PM routine, Community Safety Month, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, Voices of the South Vaping Project
  • Community Safety Committee meetings – We meet with local police to discuss crime statistics, police operations, community and Council concerns, and possible responses
  • Events and activations – Council-hosted public events and activations in Prahran Square to encourage positive use of the space
  • Have you locked your doggie door? – Safety campaign raising awareness of the dangers of unlocked doors as an access point for intruders
  • Planning enforcement investigations – Measures to address compliance issues, such as joint patrols with Victoria Police and Liquor Control Victoria
  • Police engagement activities – Supporting initiatives that allow residents to engage with police, including the Neighbourhood Policing Forum and Coffee with a Cop
  • Road Safety Improvement Program – Safety initiatives informed by community requests and known safety hotspots. These aim to create safer streets for walking, riding and connecting
  • Safety roundtable – Attended with representatives from Port Phillip, Boroondara, Kingston, Monash and Bayside Councils to discuss challenges and collaboration.
  • Salvation Army Street Team – Supporting the Street Team and Pink Car programs. Using a mini-bus and Pink Car, the program checks in with women to see if they need support, and make sure they get home safely. It operates in the Chapel Street entertainment precinct from 9:30 pm to 3 am on Friday and Saturday nights
  • Stonnington Zero – Supporting this Launch Housing-led homelessness and housing initiative.
  • Stonnington Liquor Forum – Collaboration with Victoria Police and Liquor Control Victoria to address safety issues around alcohol-related harm, patron behaviour, and issues that affect licensed premises.

Advocacy

  • CCTV cameras – Seeking election commitments for CCTV cameras on Chapel Street. Requesting expanded availability for CCTV mobile trailers and real-time CCTV data monitoring
  • Funding – Requesting funding for community health programs, including family violence services and mental health support
  • Government engagement – Meeting with Federal and State MPs to discuss community safety issues and policy changes
  • Joint motion to Municipal Association of Victoria – Partnering with four other councils on a motion for State Government funding for a range of initiatives. These include police patrols, infrastructure improvements, health and safety intervention, improved safety and street design, diversion programs, and CCTV
  • Law enforcement – Requesting an improved police and Liquor Control Victoria presence in Chapel Street
  • Law reform – Requesting law reform to address anti-social behaviour
  • Place-based investment – Advocating for areas like the Chapel Street precinct and the Prahran Town Hall cultural and creative hub

What we are going to do

Actions

  • Calendar – Building a 12-month safety calendar of events and activities to raise awareness and build community capacity
  • Community engagement – Meeting with community services providers with a focus on gender equity and community safety for co-location
  • Community Safety Officer – Bringing a Community Safety Officer onboard to coordinate our work in this space
  • Community Safety Expo – Running an expo where community members can meet local emergency services and learn about staying safe
  • Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) – Upskilling via a four-day training course for 20 staff members
  • Good Night Out – Supporting this pilot project to enhance night-time safety within the Chapel Street precinct
  • Health and Wellbeing Plan – Developing a 2025-29 plan with programs and initiatives to support safety and encourage social cohesion
  • Local Drug Action Team (LDAT) – Partnering with South East Public Health Unit on the LDAT.
  • Liquor Forum Portal – Introducing a new forum via the Connect Stonnington platform to centralise information and assist licensed premises.
  • Prahran Square – Improving landscaping and lighting
  • Prahran Town Hall – Re-activation of Prahran Town Hall, and relocation of the Prahran "satellite" library to the venue.
  • partnership – Interest in partnering on a Stonnington and surrounds Local Drug Action Team (LDAT)
  • VicHealth Local Government Partnership Module – Exploring implementation of new module to increase prevention of local alcohol harm
  • Victoria Police Neighbourhood Policing Committee – Working with Victoria Police to refine the existing committee
  • Victoria Police Neighbourhood Policing Forum – Supporting this forum which explores crime trends, crime prevention, family violence, young people, road policing, drugs and drug-related crime.

Advocacy

  • Community safety roundtable – Hosting a bi-annual roundtable with feedback to inform our actions, advocacy and referrals to response agencies.
  • Policy and law changes – Advocating for changes that support community safety, such as concerns about the weakening of licensed premises planning controls.

Safer Stonnington Community Safety Plan

Our Safer Stonnington Community Safety Plan 2024-2027 outlines how we will work with the community, local business, Victoria Police and the State Government to make Stonnington safer for everyone.

The actions in the plan focus on four priorities – People, Place, Planning and Partnerships. 

Our aims within the plan are to:

  • build partnerships and community capacity
  • create safe environments and connected neighbourhoods
  • encourage safe behaviours and respectful relationships
  • respond to emerging issues.

More information

For more information on how we are prioritising community safety, read our community safety media release.

For information on our proposals for Chapel Street, visit our community safety in Chapel Street page or read our Chapel Street public statement.

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