Girl indecently assaulted during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Melbourne
Detectives are watching reams of CCTV footage in their hunt for a sex fiend who brazenly attacked a young girl minutes after the city’s New Year’s fireworks display.
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Detectives are scouring reams of CCTV footage in their hunt for a sex fiend who brazenly attacked a young girl minutes after the city’s New Year’s fireworks display.
The predator used the cover of huge crowds gathered in the CBD to launch his attack.
The girl, believed to be 11 or 12, had just watched the fireworks with her family and was walking with them near Flinders St Station about 12.15am when she was molested.
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Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton vowed to catch the culprit.
“We are talking about a young girl who is nearly of teenage years. She was indecently assaulted, sexually assaulted by an unknown offender.
“It is a horrendous crime.”
Investigators from the Sexual Crimes Squad are leading the hunt for the predator. There is extensive City of Melbourne CCTV camera coverage of the area where the attack occurred, and the intersection of Swanston and Flinders streets has several 360-degree surveillance cameras.
However, the sheer numbers of people appearing in the footage is presenting a challenge to investigators.
Police were last night confident they would be able to make an arrest.
It is understood officers were reluctant to issue a description until they were sure they had isolated a suspect.
Investigators were yesterday taking witness statements as well as reviewing the CCTV footage. They were considering releasing more information about the incident today.
“Detectives are working their way through CCTV vision and have a number of inquiries,” Victoria Police’s Julie-Anne Newman said.
“As it is very early in the investigation, we will provide further details when we are in a position to do so.”
Carolyn Worth, from the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault, said of the attack: “For an adult woman it would be upsetting, but for a child it would have been extremely frightening.
“She would have been very shaken. You assume when you are young you are safe when out with your loved ones. Something like this is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Police said they were happy with how the majority of New Year’s Eve crowds behaved. There were 59 arrests across Victoria, 37 of them for drunkenness. Other offences included thefts and drug crimes.
Police issued 43 penalty infringement notices for traffic offences and 57 for other offences, and 15 cautions.
There were 59 arrests related to New Year’s Eve events across Victoria, including 37 people who were drunk.
Police were called to reports of an out-of-control party in a CBD apartment where bottles were being thrown from the balcony.
Deputy Commissioner Patton said the party was shut down and “nipped in the bud very quickly”.
Overall, the number of arrests was down compared to previous years, and Deputy Commissioner Patton said police were extremely happy with crowd behaviour.
“Overwhelmingly we saw great behaviour by the crowds overnight, with people heeding our advice to celebrate safely and responsibly,” he said.
“As always, there were a small number of people who did the wrong thing. Those people faced a firm response from police so they didn’t spoil the events for the broader community.”
Police figures show there were:
• 37 arrests for drunkenness;
• 22 arrests for other offences, including behavioural, theft, and drug-related offending;
• 43 penalty infringement notices for traffic offences;
•-57 penalty infringement notices for other offences; and
• 15 cautions were issued.
Anyone with information about the indecent assault is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au