Deputy mayor Brian Cunial, who is also a Frankston policeman, said last week: "People expect high levels of safety in the centres they visit for entertainment or shopping, and that is what we are looking for the City Safe officers to deliver.

"If we want to reinvigorate the heart of Frankston it has to be a place people want to visit, and I can't wait to see the feedback from residents about this trial, and the friendly faces we will have providing a presence on the streets each day."

Eight City Safe officers will patrol the city centre and foreshore areas during the six-month trial.

Dressed in distinctive blue, yellow and white uniforms, they will be the first point of call for residents and visitors seeking assistance in the central activities district.

Six will be on the streets for eight-hour periods at varying times between 10am and 2am four days a week – every Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the fourth day determined from week to week.

Another two officers will be stationed in the Safer City Centre, opposite the railway station in Young Street, during those periods.

Cr Cunial said the officers would be fitted with CCTV cameras, enabling them to record any incidents.

They will be in constant contact with each other and provide updates to Frankston police if incidents arise while they're "on the beat".

A council review will seek feedback from residents, visitors, police and CAD businesses and groups.

While the trial is strongly backed by a majority of councillors, Cr Glenn Aitken broke ranks when he publicly criticised the scheme. Cr Aitken questioned whether the trial would raise liability issues, accused the council of taking on the role of policing at ratepayers' expense and predicted it would cost "mega bucks" to continue the program beyond six months if it was permanently adopted.