City guardian concept an ‘election stunt’

BY DHEEPTHI NAMASIVAYAM
City councillor Phillip Black has slammed Liberal mayoral contender Shayne Mallard’s election promise to introduce city guardians in high-crime areas. Cr Black has described the policy as an ‘election stunt.’
Cr Mallard revealed last week that, if elected, his council will introduce a security force consisting of 100 hand-picked guardians, at a cost of $10 million, designed to supplement local police in combating anti-social behaviour.
Four city guardian stations will be opened in Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Glebe Point Road and Pyrmont.
‘The city guardians will work with the police to help bring more safety to the streets,’ Cr Mallard said.
But Cr Black called the proposal ‘outrageous’ and ‘financially irresponsible.’
‘The idea of a George W. Bush-style security van all around the city is ridiculous, I was stunned to read that this is his election centrepiece,’ Cr Black said.
Cr Mallard has proposed a city guardian mobile unit equipped with CCTV cameras to deal with localised problems.
And according to him, the guardians would be professionally trained, with a focus on cultural sensitivity, such as dealing with homeless people and gay and lesbian residents.
President of the Glebe Chamber of Commerce, Paul Angell, said the chamber would support any initiative that would help supplement local police.
Mr Angell also welcomed the use of more CCTV security cameras in Glebe.
But Jan Macindoe, president of The Glebe Society, said she remains ‘very cautious about such an idea,’.
She said this proposal could cause further divisions within the community and could jeopardise the role of local police in dealing with troubled youth in Glebe.
‘We feel that a long-term solution to youth crime in Glebe depends on building a sense of community and building up relationships,’ Ms Macindoe added.
Cr Mallard said the powers of city guardians would depend on the State Government, and they would most likely have the power to detain people, but not arrest them.