Friends of a man killed in an alleged stabbing murder at a Wollongong public housing unit say violence is rife in the block and residents are suffering from police inaction.
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Bill Cooley was homeless for seven years before he took up residence in the Cliff Road complex, which claims some of Wollongong’s priciest real estate among its neighbours.
“The only way I was going to leave was like Al. In a body bag.”
Despite the oceanfront location – all for $100 weekly rent – Mr Cooley wants a transfer.
In claims that are refuted, Mr Cooley says Wollongong Police are dismissive of frequent violent incidents at the complex, or do not respond at all.
He says police have refused to provide victims with an event number that could aid them in taking out personal violence order, or strengthen their application for a transfer.
And he claims a stabbing attack, after which the perpetrator appeared at his door “with a knife still dripping with blood” has gone unpunished almost two years later.
“There’s major violence, serious assaults, bashings and stabbings here. They say, ‘it’s just a neighbour dispute’,” Mr Cooley said.
“Wollongong Police just deem us junkie dogs and lowlifes.
“We’ve got no protection; we’re not part of society.”
Part of the block remained wrapped in police tape Monday morning in the wake of the stabbing death of resident Allan Dempsey, 58, on Friday.
Mr Cooley does not blame police for the death, but believes “their actions give people the impression they can come here and commit a crime”.
“If [Mr Dempsey] hadn’t have died, police wouldn’t have even bothered coming,” he said.
Another friend, Mal, was at the complex on Friday night. He says he held Mr Dempsey as he died.
“He had a hard life, but he had a heart of gold,” said Mal, who declined to provide his surname.
Mal said he recently left the complex to live with his mother after “years of intimidation” at the site. “The only way I was going to leave was like Al. In a body bag.”
Wollongong duty officer Dan Richardson said all call-outs in the local area command were computerised.
He denied police would deprioritise a call-out because it was at a public housing address, or would refuse to provide a victim with an event number.
“Police treat all jobs fairly and equitably,” he said. “Police will always supply report number as part of our standard victim follow-up procedures.
“Also, general duties police are tasked to patrol Cliff Road and that area on a daily basis.”
Mr Dempsey’s alleged killer, Kevin James Russell, was refused bail at Port Kembla Local Court on Monday.
The incident has ignited debate about the location of the block.
“Multi-million dollar land. [Government] should sell it and use the money to build them cheaper lots somewhere else and invest the rest into something else,” said one Mercury reader.
“End these housing commission ghettos. They are a threat to public safety,” wrote another.