The Hobart City Council has voted to put three uniformed safety officers on the streets of the CBD in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour and support struggling businesses.
The Safe City Liaison Program, approved at Monday night’s council meeting, will see officers patrol the city centre under an “educate, engage, refer” model.
They will be responsible for monitoring CCTV, connecting vulnerable people with services and acting as a point of contact for traders.
The roles will be funded by reallocating three existing council positions – including a smoking compliance officer and a vacant parking information officer – at a cost of roughly $300,000.
Alderman Louise Bloomfield was among the strongest backers of the program.
“Cameras, for instance, don’t build relationships, but people do,” she said. “And by building relationships, we actually establish prevention.”
But paramedic and councillor Ryan Posselt, opposed to the plan, argued staff would be dangerously underprepared for what they’d face on the ground.
“I know some of these individuals by name and I don’t even know the referral pathways,” he said.
“And I’m tertiary qualified and 15 years in a frontline health role that deals with these people on a day-to-day basis.”
Posselt said the officers would have no direct radio link to police and no duress alarm system, leaving them exposed in volatile situations.
Alderman Marti Zucco, the only other councillor to oppose the plan, said the money would be better spent elsewhere.
“I would support $300,000 to even $500,000 towards more cameras in the CBD … or $300,000 to $500,000 and see if we can get Tasmania Police to put more police presence on our streets,” he said.
“This is not a solution to the problem. This is going to create more problems to something we’re trying to solve.”
Councillor Louise Elliot said she was initially hesitant but was won over by the trial structure and clear performance measures.
“If this can make a small dent in at least perceived safety in our city but also actual safety-related improvements, I mean the KPIs are spelt out there in the report … I think that’s actually money well spent,” she said.
Councillor Ben Lohberger secured an amendment requiring reviews at six, 12 and 24 months, specifically examining the impact on staff mental health.
Those reviews will be reported to closed council sessions to protect employee privacy.
The program will now move to recruitment, with officers expected to hit the streets later this year.
