St Kilda beach packed with revellers; search for alleged cop basher
Unsettling scenes have unfolded at St Kilda beach as hundreds of maskless people were crammed in overnight, flocking to the party precinct to drink and dance.
Inner South
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Hundreds of people, not wearing masks or social distancing, descended on St Kilda beach watched by a heavy police presence on Sunday night.
Partygoers gathered in the popular party precinct to drink and dance after dark as the temperature soared. The crowd prompted up to 20 police, including PSOs, to swoop — forming a line to move on some of the revellers.
But no arrests were made and the crowd was relatively peaceful.
One maskless man, who asked not to be named, said: “Of course they’re going to gather. People haven’t seen each other in eight months.”
Bronte Wilson, who was out with friends while wearing face coverings, said although she acknowledged people wanted to enjoy their new-found freedoms, “obviously it’s really important to be careful”.
“What else can you do? It’s not that hard,” she said.
Her friend Nikko Riazi agreed, saying: “It’s pretty easy and it’s kind of a no-brainer to wear a mask; it’s two bits of string on a fabric.”
Two young people appeared to argue with officers on the lawn but soon moved on.
It comes as police investigate an illegal street party on nearby Acland St, which attracted more than 100 people on Saturday night.
About 100 people were dancing in the street, not wearing masks or social distancing, before police broke up the event.
SEARCH FOR ALLEGED COP BASHER
A police officer was allegedly punched in the head last Wednesday.
Police were patrolling Jack Blvd about 11.45pm when they received reports a fight had broken out between a group of people at the popular St Kilda foreshore.
When they arrived they saw about 15 to 20 people behaving aggressively towards each other and deployed OC spray to disperse the crowd.
As the fights were being broken up and people were being moved on, a group of female teens became abusive and wouldn’t move on.
That’s when a young woman allegedly punched a male officer in the head.
OC spray was used on her but she managed to flee and has been on the run since.
The officer was treated for minor facial injuries.
Detectives from the Prahran Divisional Response Unit have released an image of a female who they believe may be able to assist with their investigation.
She is perceived to be African in appearance, aged 20 to 22 and was wearing a blue bikini at the time.
Anyone who recognises the female or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
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