Major Aussie city hires private security guards to protect garbage collectors from life-threatening attacks by region’s soaring homeless population
An Australian council is so concerned about the homeless that it is hiring private security guards to protect garbage collectors from violent attacks while they collect local bins.
The south-east Queensland town of Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, has revealed it has hired a private security company to protect workers cleaning areas near the region’s thriving homeless camps.
In a statement released on Monday, the council said the guards would escort staff following an increase in violence and “life-threatening situations”.
The introduction of the security comes after reports of toilets not being cleaned for more than a week and overflowing rubbish bins.
The council said the number of complaints about people experiencing homelessness (PEH) and illegal camping has doubled in the past year.
“Due to ongoing interactions involving some people experiencing homelessness and some people camping illegally, all Operations and Safety personnel have been instructed to remain 50 meters away from PEH and illegal camping in public areas,” it said. the council.
“These interactions include escalating violence, aggression and life-threatening situations towards Council staff and members of the public.
‘This has resulted in some delays in the regular maintenance of waste containers and facilities in public spaces.
The southeast Queensland town of Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, has hired private security guards to protect workers clearing areas near homeless encampments. A homeless camp is depicted
The council said: ‘From 30 December 2024, security will accompany Council staff to serve public areas where it is possible and safe to do so.’ A homeless camp is depicted
The council said it has zero tolerance for aggression and violence towards its employees and the new measure is “in line with a recent workplace health and safety order in Queensland”.
“To address the service’s security challenges, from December 30, 2024, security will accompany Council staff to serve public areas where it is possible and safe to do so,” the council said.
Founder of Nourish Street community initiative Beau Haywood said Courier mail he doesn’t understand why the municipality hired a security guard.
“It could be a way to stop any safety issues that they might perceive, but you know I have never seen anyone abused or assaulted by someone who is homeless,” Mr Haywood said.
The council’s decision comes after new legislation was passed last month banning homeless people from owning pets.
Moreton Bay City Mayor Peter Flannery said the council is taking action against homeless people camping in public areas after receiving “hundreds” of complaints from locals.
He said the sharp increase in the number of homeless people in the council area had resulted in a sharp decline in public health, safety and services.
The move comes after the City of Moreton Bay passed new legislation last month banning homeless people from owning pets. Mayor Peter Flannery (pictured) emphasized that it is not safe for homeless people to own dogs
The city estimates there are currently about 200 homeless people in the district, of which about 30 are owned by dogs.
A council spokesman claimed numbers had grown by 90 per cent in the past decade.
“In the last two years, referrals to the council from people sleeping rough have increased by 250 per cent,” the spokesperson told the Courier Mail.
Mayor Flannery emphasized that it is not safe for homeless people to own dogs.
“Public safety concerns are increasing in some community parks and we have received hundreds of calls from residents and visitors expressing serious concerns,” he said in a statement.
He said the council had been “lenient” to homeless people on the issue in the past.
A spokesperson for the City of Moreton City Bay reiterated the mayor’s claim that keeping animals in public spaces was unsafe and against local laws.
“This is in accordance with our local laws for all members of our community,” she added. ‘All animals in public spaces must be kept under effective control at all times.’
The new rules completely ban homeless people from owning dogs and also include new guidelines around “camping in public spaces in caravans, campers and other vehicles equipped for camping purposes”, the spokesperson added.