Melb wants "aggressive" homeless strategy

Melbourne needs a more aggressive outreach to handle the number of homeless people on its streets, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says.

A homeless man holds out his cap for money Source: AFP

Melbourne's Lord Mayor wants an "aggressive" outreach approach to tackling homelessness after a number of people camped out at Flinders Street Station.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the full range of homelessness needed to be addressed - from professional and threatening beggars to people with tragic stories - after the camp sprung up as the Australian Open tennis started.

""I am very keen to work with Victoria Police in coming months on the new assertive, even aggressive outreach programs that we are trialling to address homelessness," Mr Doyle said in a statement on Wednesday.