Hobart could soon have a dedicated team of uniformed officers patrolling the CBD to tackle anti-social behaviour and support vulnerable people under a new council-led safety program.
The City of Hobart will tomorrow night consider establishing the ‘Safer Hobart Program’, which would see three officers deployed to engage with businesses, monitor trouble spots and connect rough sleepers and at-risk individuals with support services.
The proposal comes after repeated calls from Tasmania Police, local businesses and the Safer Hobart Alliance for a more visible council presence on city streets.
“Community expectations have grown as Tasmania Police shift toward targeted, intelligence-led policing, leaving identifiable gaps in day-to-day public presence,” the council report states.
The officers would operate Monday to Friday during business hours, focusing on education and de-escalation rather than enforcement.
Their duties would include patrolling known hotspots, engaging with vulnerable community members and monitoring smoke-free areas.
The program would cost $300,000 annually but require no new funding, with the council repurposing three existing vacant positions.
A 2022 internal audit identified significant gaps in the council’s community safety approach, including the lack of a proactive workforce and limited use of its extensive CCTV network.
“CCTV footage can identify incidents but cannot intervene, reassure, educate or connect vulnerable individuals to services,” the report notes.
The report noted paying Tasmania Police for additional patrols was not feasible, stating police staffing levels are set by government allocation and cannot be expanded through external payment.
The program draws on similar models in Melbourne and Perth, where local governments have deployed community safety officers to complement traditional policing.
Officers would wear body cameras and receive training in de-escalation, trauma-informed practice and mental health first aid.
The council will workshop the proposal on Tuesday before seeking formal endorsement at its February 23 meeting.
