Community Safety

Safer Banyule Plan 2005-2007

Front cover of Safer Banyule Plan 2005-2007
Safer Banyule Plan 2005-2007

Council is proud to promote it’s community safety plan vision:

Banyule Is A Safe Place To Be – Let’s Make It Even Safer!  

The vision and plan highlight that Victoria and in particular, Banyule, are very safe places to live and work. The plan provides strategies for making Banyule even safer.

The plan has a prevention focus, preventing crime in the first place as well as looking at the underlying causes of social problems including people’s lifestyles, working and living conditions.

For more information please call Council's Community Safety Officer on 9490 4222.

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Common Safety Myths

The plan also looks at dispelling some of the most common myths about crime:

Myth

Fact
Crimes against the person are common In Banyule, overwhelmingly, the majority of recorded crime is crime against property and not against the person.
Drug use and in particular, illicit drug use such as heroin is common Banyule has a low incidence of illicit drug use and a low incidence of inappropriate syringe disposal. In fact, research shows that there is far greater harm and death related to tobacco smoking than any other drug including alcohol, cannabis, recreation drugs and heroin, combined.
Older adults and women in particular, are more vulnerable in the community      The older a person becomes, the less likely it is that he or she will become a victim of crime. In 2000 to 2001, people aged 60+ years experienced only 2.5% of all crimes against the person. Males aged 15-24 years, made up the largest group of victims of personal offences and most other types of crimes.
Graffiti is associated with violence and makes an area unsafe Graffiti can lead to feelings of disorder and perceptions that an area is unsafe, even though the area is most likely very safe. Graffiti occurs in most public areas, particularly along key pedestrian routes. In fact, the majority of graffiti in Banyule is ‘tag’ graffiti, quick signature scribbles done on the way to and from school with very little malice intended. Only a small number of people become involved in graffiti from a diverse range of backgrounds, but are predominantly young males under 18 years. Graffiti happens for many reasons including: marking territory, peer recognition, self-expression, social outlet, risk-taking behaviour and even boredom. There is no research to support that there is any relationship between graffiti and violence.

(Source: Crime Prevention)

Graffiti Management Strategy

front cover of graffiti brochure
Getting a Grip on Graffiti brochure

If you see graffiti on Council owned assets please let us know. By completing the online feedback form we will be able to arrange for the removal of the graffiti.

Council assets include:

  • Council signage
  • Bus shelters
  • Park and street furniture
  • Public toilets
  • Sporting pavilions
  • Other Council buildings
  • Roads and footpaths

Click on the link below to download the brochure "Getting a Grip on Graffiti".

For information on Council's Graffiti Management Strategy 2005-07, click on the link below.

For more information on graffiti see Services for You/Graffiti

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Traffic Graffix 2008 Art Competition

Are you an artist?  Do you want your work publicly displayed?

Council invites all art enthusiasts to apply to be a part of  “Traffic Graffix”, a Banyule City Council graffiti prevention initiative.

Traffic Graffix is a community art competition to give local artists the opportunity to publicly display their work by painting directly onto a VicRoads traffic signal box or a Telstra utility box. The aim is reduce the reoccurrence of graffiti on the boxes and to create a more vibrant and interesting urban environment.

VicRoads and Telstra have agreed to pilot this project on their utility boxes across the City of Banyule. We have funding to paint 50 of these boxes, but hope to extend the project over time. In the first round of the Traffic Graffix art competition which operated between March and October 2007, 14 VicRoads signal boxes were successfully completed across the municipality.

Anybody can apply to be involved by sending in an application form and a colour copy of their design. You can apply to paint one box or a series of boxes, there is no restriction on the amount of times you apply.

All artists (professional or amateur), school groups, community groups and young people are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to Banyule residents.

The Traffic Graffix project has been co-funded by VicRoads and Banyule City Council. Council will provide the paint and safety materials, all you will need are your ideas and paint brushes. For competition criteria and application form click on the links below.

 All designs must be in by the 1 August 2008 to participate in the competition.

There will be cash prizes for the best boxes under the following categories:

  • Best Design
  • Runner Up Best Design
  • Best Youth Design (18 yrs and under)
  • Runner Up Best Youth Design (18 yrs and under)
  • Best School Design
  • Runner Up Best School Design

Traffic Graffix is based on the very successful Artforce project in Brisbane. An initiative of Brisbane City Council managed by Queensland Urban Ecology Artwork www.brisbane.qld.gov.au\artforce

For more information contact:

Graffiti Project Worker
9490 4222
bianca.ellis@banyule.vic.gov.au
 
or

Community Safety Officer
9490 4222
rebecca.olsen@banyule.vic.gov.au

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Back up Program

image from Back up program
Back up Program

The Back-Up Program has operated in Banyule for six years. Back-Up is a voluntary diversionary program for young people in Banyule and Nillumbik, offered to them if they are cautioned or charged at Police stations in Greensborough, Heidelberg, Heidelberg West, Eltham, Diamond Creek or Hurstbridge.

Back-Up links young people and their families to support services so they can explore issues such as family communication and relationships, adolescent development and behaviours, learning difficulties at school and many other factors. The aim is to strengthen families and the young person’s links with the broader community.

Back-Up is a collaborative partnership between Banyule City Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, Victoria Police, the Department of Human Services (Juvenile Justice Northern Region), Berry Street Victoria, Alys Key Family Care, Job Placement Employment and Training (Youth Projects Inc.), Banyule Community Health Service and Nillumbik Community Health Service.

This multi-disciplinary approach strengthens links between Victoria Police and local support agencies, producing better results for young people and their families. 

The long-term aim of the program is to prevent young people from entering the justice system and continuing on a path of criminal activity. It also aims to reduce the level of youth-related crimes.

In 2003 the Back-Up program won a National Crime and Violence Prevention Award. It recognised the excellence in developing and operating such an innovative and successful early intervention strategy for young people and their families in the Banyule region.

For more information please contact Council's Youth Services on 9490 4222.

Support the elimination of violence against women

Support the elimination of violence against women – purchase a white ribbon from customer service for $2

White Ribbon Day, is an international campaign organised by men working to end men's violence against women.  November 25, marks the United Nations International Day for the elimination of Violence Against Women.  Wearing a white ribbon and supporting White Ribbon Day is an opportunity for men to show that violence against women is unacceptable.  The campaign, officially starts on 25 November and continues until December 10.
If you want to know more about White Ribbon go to the website at www.whiteribbonday.com.au or call Amanda Rigby 9457 9935.

Physical and sexual violence is against the law.  If you are concerned about a friend, family member or neighbour you can suggest they contact Berry Street Victoria t: 9458 5788, or the Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault t: 03 9497 1768.

On White Ribbon Day, November 25th men across the world wear a white ribbon in a public show of support to end violence against women.

One in three Australian women will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.  Intimate partner violence is responsible for more ill-health and premature death of Victorian women than any other of the well known risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity and smoking.  Unfortunately statistics show that most of these acts are perpetrated by men.  

The White Ribbon Campaign is the first male led campaign working to end violence against women in Australia by engaging men and boys to actively oppose violence against women.  Over the next four years, thanks to the support of the Commonwealth Government, White Ribbon will be developing education activities in rural and regional communities to promote culture-change.

It’s important to start developing positive attitudes early (what parents can do)

The White Ribbon Foundation says children learn about respect in relationships by how their parents treat others, so demonstrating warm, non-aggressive, caring and respectful relationships with others is a particularly important role that parents can play. Witnessing parental domestic violence is the strongest predictor of acts of violence in young people's own intimate relationships.

“Boys receive all kinds of messages about what it means ‘to be a man’. Many of these are conflicting and potentially harmful to their development, particularly the expectation to ‘be tough’ and ‘in control’. These concepts of strength can be confused with violence,” says child and adolescent Psychologist, Michael Carr-Greg.
The White Ribbon Foundation has some simple tips for mums and dads to incorporate into their parenting:

  • If you see things that depict violence this is an opportunity to speak about the issue. Never hesitate to let your child know that violent behaviour is unacceptable, whether in jokes, song lyrics, video games, or even the behaviour of celebrities and sports people.
  • Talk to your children about how to deal with anger and frustration. Offer them alternative ways of expressing these feelings, such as participating in sports and community activities, knowing when to take time out, walk it off or reading a book.
  • Bring it up! Your children are not likely to approach you to ask about negotiating consent or how to treat a girl or woman, and yet this can be one of the most important conversations you can have with your child. So be the one to bring it up. Talk candidly about how to expect, to give, and to receive respect in relationships.
  • Listen to what your son has to say about girls, and ask if he has seen abusive behaviour by his friends – don’t allow disrespectful attitudes to go unchallenged and help him find ways to challenge bad behaviour safely. 
  • Always treat your child’s mother with respect and care, modelling non-violence in your own relationship.

What is Banyule doing?
Banyule City Council is supporting White Ribbon Day Campaign and encouraging local residents, agencies and organisations to get involved and promote that violence against women is never OK. 

What is family violence?  It is abuse by a family member to others in the family.  This includes: physical; sexual; emotional and financial.  It is considered abuse because it hurts people or makes them feel afraid.  All types of violence are harmful.

To raise awareness of the Campaign and to highlight how we can make a difference locally Banyule City Council has partnered with Spectrum MRC, as well as Darebin, Yarra and Moreland Councils to run two leadership breakfast on family violence. 

The first was held on the 15th of August and speakers included Deputy Commissioner Simon Overland, Former AFL star Jason McCartney and Karen Langdren an advocate and survivor of violence against women.   This breakfast highlighted the importance of family violence as an issue in our community.

The second and final breakfast was held on Wednesday 1st October. The focus of the breakfast was to show how people can get involved in the campaign at a local level, and support women in Banyule to feel supported, safe and valued.  Speakers included white ribbon ambassadors Dr Leigh Gassner (former Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police) and Brendon Gale (CEO, AFL Players Association).  Libby Lloyd, AM (Chair National Council for Reducing Violence Against Women and Children)

Banyule Council staff formed their own White Ribbon Action Group and are planning to host a number of internal events to raise awareness of the campaign across the organisation.

How can you get involved?
Wear a White Ribbon!  White Ribbons (or wrist bands) will be available from customer service counters in November for $2.   Send a message that you do not support violence against women.

You can also join the campaign and help make a positive change in the workplace or your community: 

  • Organise an event in November to mark White Ribbon Day
  • Buy, wear and distribute White Ribbons 
  • Invite a White Ribbon Day Ambassador to speak at your event
  • Read more about the issues of domestic violence at www.whiteribbonday.org.au

If you want to know more about White Ribbon go to the website at www.whiteribbonday.com.au, http://www.myoath.com.au/ or call Amanda Rigby 9457 9935.

Physical and sexual violence is against the law.  If you are concerned about a friend, family member or neighbour you can suggest they contact Berry Street Victoria t: 9458 5788, or the Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault t: 03 9497 1768.