Police have praised the quick actions of local traders following an incident in Bairnsdale’s main business district last week, but business leaders warn the event highlights a growing, systemic crisis on local streets.
Emergency services were called to the Bairnsdale CBD on Tuesday afternoon after a man brandishing a pair of scissors entered several local businesses, making severe verbal threats to staff, patrons and himself before being apprehended by police.
Police confirmed the incident involved a medical-related episode, with Senior Sergeant Mark Jolley stating that no injuries were sustained and praising witnesses for their prompt reporting.
However, local traders say the incident is the breaking point in a pattern of escalating safety and welfare issues in the town centre.
According to local retailer and Bairnsdale Chamber of Commerce secretary, Annemieke Jongsma, business owners have observed a concerning increase in recent weeks of individuals who appear “severely unwell or highly substance-affected”, prompting frequent calls to emergency services.
“Unfortunately, it seems the police do not have capacity or are unable to get many of these people help,” Ms Jongsma said.
“The person is spoken to and left ‘as is’ or at best ‘moved on’.”
Ms Jongsma said the limitations of the ‘move on’ approach became alarmingly evident last Tuesday when the individual armed with scissors caused havoc across Main Street and McLeod Street.
Traders reported the same individual’s behaviour had already sparked community concern earlier that morning. Ms Jongsma said after being spoken to by police, he was not taken into protective or medical custody and remained in the area.
“While it is acknowledged there was possibly no way of knowing that this individual would do what he did later in the day, the fact that he was acting in a way that concerned people enough to call police raises questions,” she said.
Business leaders stress the issue lies not with front-line officers, who are constrained by existing legislation, but with broader policy and legislative settings that prevent early intervention before an incident occurs.
“The persistent ‘we can’t do anything until they actually do something’ approach when it comes to the overtly substance-affected or mentally ill is getting out of hand and is going to result in serious injury or death if something doesn’t change,” Ms Jongsma said.
“While the welfare of individuals suffering from mental health should always be a priority, the safety and economic concerns for the community and business owners need to stop being an afterthought — they also have rights under the Charter of Human Rights.”
Local business owners and community representatives continue to advocate for structural solutions to mitigate CBD incidents, but report hitting continuous policy roadblocks.
“The issues may be complex, but that does not mean that those who have the power to enact change should sit on their hands,” Ms Jongsma said.
“The apathy and buck-passing by those in power needs to stop; they need to listen to those on the ground and actually do something.”
