FRANKSTON Council's efforts to curb street violence and lawlessness have been blamed for escalating problems in Mt Eliza.

While Frankston has embarked on a $1million safety package complete with private security guards, Mt Eliza traders have been knocked back in their bid to install spy cameras in the village.

Ian Morrison is widely known for shouting out the virtues of Mornington Peninsula Shire as its official town crier, but last week he was criticising the shire for not doing enough about safety in the streets.

While stressing he was "wearing my other hat" as secretary of the Mt Eliza Community Association, Mr Morrison suggested the shire hire its own set of after-dark security guards.

"The efficiency of Frankston is pointing the way for criminals to come to Mt Eliza," he said.

"Our chamber of commerce should start to collect money to pay for CCTV cameras.

"I'll be asking [Dunkley MP] Bruce Billson if we can use his database to send letters."

Mr Morrison also criticised the lack of police support for the Neighbourhood Watch program, "which has left us with no effective detection system".

"We should start the Frankston idea of private security guards. There is not sufficient police patrols.

"It's a wild west situation here – we're exposed."

Mr Morrison said Mt Eliza had last week been "attacked on several fronts".

"The main thoroughfare – Mt Eliza Way – took a thorough, after-dark hammering when vandals armed with aerosol sprays and marker pens smashed shop windows, stole other people's property and removed life-protecting road safety signs."

Mornington police have since charged a number of people with drawing graffiti.

Mr Morrison said the community association applied for a grant from a Department of Justice CCTV funding scheme last year but was knocked back.

"Many crimes in Mt Eliza go unreported mainly because of the lack of a local police station, so what we are seeing is criminally motivated shop-breaking activities.

"Because of Frankston's success in attracting national media attention to its high-profile action, the rest of the peninsula could conceivably suffer the spillover effect as criminals seek softer and easy pickings in the unprotected Mt Eliza area."

Mr Morrison suggested Mornington Peninsula Shire hire security guards to patrol "isolated villages where police attendance is sporadic and low level".