Council’s dob squad

Andrew Mathieson
A shortage of police foot patrols has forced City Hall to take the law into its own hands, according to a senior officer.
Central Geelong and waterfront manager Steve Bentley said council planned to patrol city streets with part-time “ambassadors” to dob in anti-social behaviour.
The ambassadors would have by-laws power to caution and fine offenders for incidents involving swearing, spitting, drinking in public and dangerous bike riding, Mr Bentley said.
They would also radio police to deal with criminal activity.
Mr Bentley said the three permanent ambassadors would be council’s “eyes and ears” on the streets of Geelong.
The ambassadors initiative was in response to public demand for a clean-up of behaviour in the central city area, he said.
“While there have been some good gains in improved police presence and camera monitoring, the feeling on the streets is that it could still be better.
“It’s not policing – we’re not the police anyway – but it’s clearly working with the police.”
Mr Bentley said “education and engagement” would be the ambassador’s first “line of action” with people displaying anti-social behaviour.
“However, if people continue to do the wrong thing, that’s when we will activate the police.”
Mr Bentley said the ambassadors would not single out central Geelong’s young “mall rats” but would undergo youth and security training to handle volatile situations.
“Our clear objective is to engage those people and say everyone has the right to be here.”
The ambassadors would also crack down on other by-laws infringements such as illegally-placed business signs and chairs too close to kerbs in restaurant alfresco areas.
Illegally parked cars could also be targets, Mr Bentley said.
Providing information for visitors and reporting property damage and spills of food and drink to City Hall for clean-up would be minor roles.
The City has advertised the jobs with pay at a full-time rate of up to $47,000 a year.
Mr Bentley said the City planned to have the ambassadors on the streets by August.
The City begun work on the initiative after successful trials of a similar scheme at Frankston.