While certain suburbs in Melbourne have a reputation for being more secure than others, it’s important to look deeper than what you hear from friends and family or read on social media. There are a number of factors to consider when looking for a secure place to live, including the local crime rate and the presence of nearby emergency services.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of these factors and explain what, exactly, constitutes a ‘safe’ suburb. Using these insights, you can find an ideal region to live, work, or study within metropolitan Melbourne.
Presence of Security Services
Gated communities aren’t as prevalent in Australia as they are in the Philippines, so most Aussies who live in landed homes are responsible for the security of their property. This is why it’s essential to find a suburb that’s within close proximity of local emergency services, or at least within the servicing area of a reputable Melbourne security company.
A good security company will offer a wide range of services to help you keep your property safe. This includes CCTV camera installation and overall risk advisory. Some security businesses also provide on-demand neighbourhood security patrols, so it’s always a good idea to live in a suburb where these patrols are regularly conducted.
Working with professional security services can protect your home against threats such as trespassers and armed robbers. Choose a suburb that can be serviced easily by a professional security company for maximum peace of mind.
Low Crime Rate
A suburb’s crime rate is among the first factors you should look up when searching for a safe place to live. This information is readily available online through the Crime Statistics Agency website, which presents data on crime throughout Victoria in easily understandable graphics and maps. This site also provides data on the types of crime that are most prevalent in certain areas.
Although the crime rates in Australia are decreasing steadily year by year, there’s no getting around the fact that some suburbs are more secure than others. While we might all have ingrained stereotypes of which suburbs are considered ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’, it’s vital to look at the actual numbers before making a decision on where to live.
Availability of Emergency Services
Another safety factor to consider when choosing where to live is the ready availability of services like emergency clinics, fire stations and police stations. While these will be present in most Victorian suburbs, some areas are more accessible than others, and a fast response is critical in situations like a burglary or a medical emergency.
Fire stations are particularly crucial in a Melbourne context. Unlike in the Philippines, the air in Australia is incredibly dry. Add to this the fact that there’s a lot of flammable vegetation in the less urbanised parts of Victoria, and it’s easy to see why fires are such a big concern. Make sure to choose a house that lies in close proximity to a fire station and that there are no road obstructions that might prevent a fire truck from arriving at your property promptly.
It’s also important to note that you need to take your own measures to protect against fires. No matter how conveniently located your home is, fire trucks still take time to arrive. Install fire alarms, smart fire sprinklers and other essential safety equipment to ensure that you’re always ready in case of an emergency.
Community Commitment to Security
While home security should be left to experts like private businesses and the police, your community’s commitment to safety also plays an important role in protecting your neighbourhood. If you’re in the process of deciding where to live, you should look for a suburb with a well-organised neighbourhood watch group.
A neighbourhood watch does not replace the police’s role. However, these private groups can contribute to a suburb’s safety by discouraging potential criminals, encouraging regular citizens to report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities and informing the police about local issues that you and your neighbours are facing. If you currently live in a suburb and would like to contribute to its security, you can sign up to be a member of your local neighbourhood watch.
Positive Reputation
Finally, you can get an idea of whether a suburb is safe or unsafe by reading what people say about it. Before moving to a new area, make sure to look up reviews on platforms like Google, Facebook and Reddit. If you have friends or family with experience living there, it can also help to get their opinions.
While word-of-mouth isn’t the end-all be-all, it can point you in the right direction when searching for a new place to live. Use all the sources of information at your disposal before making a big move to a specific suburb to determine whether or not it’s a safe place to live.
Stay Safe in Melbourne with these Local Security Considerations
There are countless factors to take into account when moving. It’s important to think about proximity to work, school and leisure spaces. It’s also vital to choose a suburb that’s a safe environment for you and your family to live in.
In this piece, we’ve gone over some key ways to tell whether or not a specific suburb is safe. Conduct your own residential research prior to making any big moves to ensure that you and your loved ones feel safe at home all the time.
