Victorian legal services have voiced strong concerns about the City of Melbourne's private security guard program, warning it risks targeting people for behaviours linked to poverty, such as begging and sleeping in public.
The City of Melbourne's 2025-26 budget includes $2.1 million to expand the Safe City Camera Program, activating more than 100 new CCTV cameras — about 40 owned by council and 60 privately owned — and a further $2 million to "expand the visible safety presence in the city".
A draft proposal, currently open for public consultation until October 29, would allow authorised officers — including council security guards — to use CCTV footage to investigate issues like illegal dumping and graffiti. The proposal is due to go before the council for a vote on December 9.
In February, councillors endorsed a pilot program allowing contracted security guards to accompany the City of Melbourne's Local Laws Officers. The program began the following month.
Legal organisations, including the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) and Fitzroy Legal Service (FLS), say the use of "pseudo cops" is intimidating vulnerable people under the guise of community safety.
VALS chief executive Nerita Waight told National Indigenous Times her organisation was "alarmed, appalled, and dismayed" by the decision to use private security to police "complex on street issues".
"This program is inherently discriminatory and racist, given the disproportionate numbers of Aboriginal people sleeping rough, with move-on directions and infringements akin to criminalising poverty," she said.
"Evidence-based reforms and support services which address the root causes of social issues are the only way forward. The Council need to invest in outreach and support services, instead of turning their back on its most vulnerable populations. Everybody deserves to feel safe, not just those with privilege."
Fitzroy Legal Service said its clients experiencing homelessness have reported being harassed and targeted by security guards during the pilot program. The organisation raised concerns about the legal and human rights implications, arguing that the initiative undermines the Council's stated vision and principles.
"The program creates an illusion of safety at the expense of human rights and dignity," an FLS statement said last month.
"People experiencing homelessness are among the most marginalised Victorians, and at greatly increased risk of human rights violations due to over-surveillance, discrimination, and harassment simply by existing in public spaces."
VALS also raised concerns about the lawfulness of authorised officers issuing move-on directions under local laws, and the privacy implications of using private CCTV footage.
"We understand that the newly proposed Community Safety officers, like authorised officers, will have powers to undertake citizens' arrests for local laws, utilise handcuffs, and move people on from public places — all of which have the potential to violate human rights," Ms Waight said.
"They are proposing that these officers will also have access to the CBD's vast network of surveillance, a deep cause of concern, leading us down a path of criminalising poverty."
It is understood the CCTV proposal has been deemed legally sound and in line with the Victorian Charter of Human Rights.
Crime statistics released last month show the City of Melbourne recorded a 17.4 per cent increase in crime over the past year. With 18,097.4 criminal incidents per 100,000 residents, the municipality has the highest crime rate of any local government area in Victoria.
Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece defended the proposal on ABC Radio, saying it would operate under "rigorous protocols," including confidentiality agreements for anyone accessing the CCTV control room.
"Principally, what we're talking about here is the City of Melbourne and our local law officers, our own City of Melbourne enforcement team, being able to use the footage to help catch people who are breaching local laws," he said.
VALS has launched a petition urging the Council to redirect the budget funding toward evidence-based reforms that address the underlying causes of homelessness. The organisation plans to present the petition at a council meeting on October 21.
"We are calling on the people of Melbourne to stand with us as we oppose this harmful and shortsighted approach to complex social issues, serving to only to entrench disadvantage and harm to Melbourne's most vulnerable people," Ms Waight said.
"Instead, we are asking them to invest in community-based supports and outreach services."
A spokesperson for the City of Melbourne told National Indigenous Times their "Community Safety Team's primary focus is to help our whole community feel safe and supported. A key part of this is connecting vulnerable people with services and pathways to improve their wellbeing and avoid the justice system".
They noted they had "clearly that the presence our Community Safety Officers will help local businesses, residents, city workers and our staff feel safer".
"All officers have completed comprehensive training to enable them to support vulnerable community members. This included trauma-informed engagement, mental health and substance use awareness, cultural safety, and family and gendered violence prevention," the spokesperson said.
"Earlier this year, Council ran a six-month pilot program to engage security guards to provide additional support to our local laws officers. During the pilot, our officers referred 50 people to support services and engaged with more than 1,500 members of our community."
