Seaford beach: Calls for more police as drunks, troublemakers swarm sand on hot days

Unruly out-of-town teens are swarming a beach in Melbourne’s southeast, residents say. And the chaos is putting families in harm’s way. WATCH FOOTAGE

Concerned Seaford residents say they are being “forced off” their foreshore as rowdy beachgoers continue to cause chaos on hot days.

Police were again called to the troubled beach on Thursday as dozens of drunks, including children, witnessed scuffling, swearing and yelling in front of families.

The incident came than a week after an officer was allegedly assaulted when boozed-up thugs started fighting on November 10.

A young woman, who did not want to be named, told Leader Seaford had become a hotspot for youths to meet up and run amok.

It’s believed the groups catch public transport from suburbs including Cranbourne and Dandenong before loading up on alcohol and spilling out onto the foreshore.

“They have easy access going on the bus from Cranbourne straight to the beach – most of these kids are from there,” she said.

“They used to always start trouble at Frankston but due to the heavy police presence there, they’ve moved onto Seaford.”

She said the youths had planned skipped school on hot days to meet at the beach.

“They are mostly 15 to 16. They use social media groups to invite masses of people down. It’s really just out of control at the moment.”

Residents were seen cleaning up bags of bottles and smashed glass along the water on Friday morning.

“The beach was just covered in all these young people among families and police (on Thursday) … I’ve lived here for five and a half years and it’s never been like this,” one resident, who did not want to be named, told the Leader.

“You’ve got a beautiful hot day and at the end of the night you end up with cop cars and broken bottles … I’m just avoiding the beach whenever it’s a hot day now … it’s really sad.”

Resident Lisa Parker said she had witnessed a “sharp” increase in violent attacks between youths in the area.

“Women with babies in their arms have been in harm’s way due to violent attacks among the youths spilling into other beachgoers space,” she said.

Dozens of residents took to the Seaford Community Hub page to express their shock after witnessing anti-social behaviour on Thursday night.

A number of residents called for increased police presence ahead of scorching summer days.

“I drove past the station at 7.30pm and there were a group of girls punching each other … no excuse for drinking and violence in a family area,” one woman said.

“It was just kids swearing, yelling at each other and groping each other not a pretty sight for all the families waiting at the fish shops,” one man said.

“Absolutely sick of hearing the sirens and seeing these disgusting acts of violence and mayhem whenever it’s a hot day and night in the Seaford beach precinct … I strongly believe it’s the lawless from other areas coming to trash the beautiful beach area and most likely fuelled on drugs and alcohol,” another man said.

“Myself and my partner normally walk our two pups at Seaford beach. Will be going to another beach from now on. It keeps happening and I don’t want my dogs or my partner to get hurt,” another man said.

Superintendent David Watt said police would have a highly visible presence across Seaford and other beaches in Melbourne’s southeast as part of Operation Summersafe.

Supt Watt said police were aware that some groups of young people travelled between popular beach locations and would closely monitor the public transport network to ensure that everyone could go about their day and night safely.

“In recent weeks police have responded to a small number of incidents in Seaford involving large groups of young people, however we want to reassure the community it is only a very small number of people who are choosing to do the wrong thing,” Supt Watt said.

“We want to be very clear that police will not tolerate any form of anti-social or disruptive behaviour and will hold those accountable for their actions.”

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