Residents in Regional Victoria Hire Security Patrols Over Crime Fears

Residents in the regional Victorian city of Ballarat have resorted to hiring private security patrols in response to growing fears about a rise in crime. Z Protection Services commenced night-time patrols on Monday, covering over 20 residential addresses between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The company offers two to three patrols nightly in a security vehicle for its clients.

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The whole security idea is [to be a] deterrent. If someone is there and he's thinking of doing the wrong thing, he should think twice, he should leave.

Official crime statistics from the Victorian government reveal a concerning trend. In the 12 months leading up to March 2026, crime incidents in Ballarat increased by 11.7%. The city's per capita crime rate stands at over 9,000 crimes per 100,000 people, which is significantly higher than the state average of approximately 6,500 crimes. Crime rates in Ballarat have been on an upward trajectory since 2021.

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If a crime is actively happening, security can't do anything about it, so [the police] can be called straight away. We're not competing with police. If we have any trouble, we're going to call the police.

Gerard Faulkner, business operations manager for Z Protection Services, emphasized that the company's aim is crime prevention. "The whole security idea is [to be a] deterrent," Faulkner stated. "If someone is there and he's thinking of doing the wrong thing, he should think twice, he should leave." He clarified that private patrols are not intended to replace police operations. "If a crime is actively happening, security can't do anything about it, so [the police] can be called straight away," he added, stressing they are not competing with law enforcement and would call the police in case of trouble. The goal, Faulkner explained, is to deter minor offenses, thereby freeing up police resources to handle more serious incidents.

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While security patrols may serve as a deterrent for would-be offenders, we would still encourage security workers and residents not to take the law into their own hands.

This initiative is not unprecedented in Victoria. In 2025, Wyndham Council funded similar security patrols in Truganina, a suburb in Melbourne's west. A Victoria Police spokesperson acknowledged the community's concerns but urged residents to always call Triple Zero (000) in emergencies. "While security patrols may serve as a deterrent for would-be offenders, we would still encourage security workers and residents not to take the law into their own hands," the spokesperson advised. Detective Inspector Andrew Brady of the Ballarat police division acknowledged the community's "angst and concern" regarding vehicle crime but reiterated that police are trained and equipped to handle such situations and urged residents not to intervene themselves.

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I acknowledge the angst and the concern in the community around vehicle crime, but I must urge them not to [take matters into their own hands]. They have police. We are trained, we're equipped to go to these situations.