How bad is the crime rate and drugs in Footscray?

It is pretty bad I don't live there but when you walk pass people they are proply dealing drugs I saw it is pretty bud

Considering Footscray is largely young family populated, it is nowhere near as bad as other areas of Melbourne, like most cities around the world, if you go looking you will find it, if you are aware of it but have no interest, you shouldn't be bothered by it. Naturally common sense plays a major part.

Have lived in for Footscray 10 years and my daughter has done primary and high school locally all of an excellent standard. The "Footscray Drugs" thing bothers me. This reputation is undeserved. Yes we have druggies and crazys - they are probably more in your face here, whereas its a stigmatized person who secretly does drugs on the same level in politer suburbs which I don't like. Personally I don't want the local colour to change in Footscray - a vibrant and friendly down to earth community- realistically I believe to be civil those that are less fortunate have to be accommodated - but I also don't want my daughter hurt by this either so I guess I have double standards too.

The insinuation that working class suburbs (particularly in the west) such as Footscray, Sunshine and St Albans are ridden with drug takers or drug dealers is a pretty narrow view for an area with so much to offer. Schools in Braybrook and Maribyrnong are actually some of the highest achieving schools in the state, the cost of living is fairly low considering how close the city is and other trendy inner city suburbs, theres a few different options for tertiary education and lots of work and business opportunities, and this is all without mentioning entertainment and dining options all without even having to go far. Of course there's a few bad seeds, but they are not localised entirely in the western suburbs and I invite anyone who thinks so to check out some stuff we have to offer. You might actually like it! :)

I have lived in footscray my whole life. i love it here! I have never heard such ridiculous things being said about my town. people just hear rumors and assume that it's a bad place...but is NOT!!! Our vibrant and cheerfull community welcomes you to footscray. Good luck!!! ;)

As a proud, non-classist, non-racist, non-bigoted local, I want to say Footscray is awesome - full of lovely, interesting, exuberant, diverse, non-classist, non-racist and non-bigoted people. Except for the mugs who posted above - hopefully they'll move soon so we can keep the tolerant character of the area in tact!

I moved from Footscray to Tarneit and work in Melton.... Footscray is heaven compared to these suburbs.

Crikey the crime is unreal here you never know what your gonna get one minute you see someone smoking ice around the corner and then the next you have to dodge people on the way to coles and people stealing from shops. bottom line its pretty bud 0 stars

Look... If you don't have balls of steel then leave. It's not a suburb for cowards. The less of you there are around here, the less ppl I have to dodge on the footpath to Coles.

Where are you getting your drug and crime "rate" figures from? The tabloid press? Asking "How bad" is like asking how long is a piece of string...it depends.