Mayhem as police swarm White Night
UPDATE: AN ugly confrontation between rival troublemakers at Federation Square, which marred White Night celebrations, had been planned.
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AN ugly confrontation between rival troublemakers at Federation Square, which marred White Night celebrations, had been planned.
But police thwarted a possible large-scale riot with the aid of a new $15 million hi-tech crimefighting hub.
The monitoring and assessment centre, which opened only weeks ago, gives officers real-time access to intelligence and to live CCTV feeds.
Two groups of youths, mostly aged 14 to 19, had been communicating via social media in the lead-up to the standoff early on Sunday.
Police seized knuckledusters, knives and a baseball bat, and one youth was caught with pepper spray.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said intelligence had been suggesting for weeks that two groups of youths were intending to cause trouble at White Night.
“They were going to meet somewhere in town,’’ Mr Leane said.
Police are forming a wall. There are hundreds here. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/IMoHreY3MC
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) February 18, 2017
“A small rump of that group managed to get together early in the morning and found a place at Fed Square.
“They thought as a last resort they’d try it on.
“Our police performed exactly as they were asked to.
“They stood in between groups that looked like they were going to flare up and prevented any violence.”
The unruly group, which included young women, abused police during a standoff which began about 1am and continued for almost two hours.
Police are moving on two groups at Federation Square who have been "fighting." @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/o4KQ6eu6KT
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) February 18, 2017
Officers used pepper spray.
Asked if the youths were affiliated with the Apex gang, Mr Leane said: “I’m not sure Apex even still exists. The young people have moved on from talking about Apex, as far as we can work out.
“As far as we can see, it’s the United Nations of groups. They merge, but they take a dislike to each other, and for some reason the groups were deciding last night they’d have a go.”
A 17-year-old boy was arrested and is expected to be charged on summons after police found a baseball bat.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said new equipment and extra public order response officers had helped quickly disrupt any mayhem at Federation Square.
“Police were able to locate and contain this small group of young people before they could cause any trouble,” Ms Neville said.
About 10.20pm, in an unrelated incident, a woman, 21, was stabbed in the toilets of Southern Cross station. Three female teenagers of Asian appearance were being sought.
About 550,000 people packed the city for the all-night festival, and police were pleased with overall behaviour: 21 people were arrested for alcohol, drugs, assault, criminal damage and weapons offences.
Daria Jehani, 18, told the Herald Sun a young man of African appearance grabbed her new iPhone and bank card from her back pocket at the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets about 8.40pm.
“It upset me so much. I didn’t feel safe at all. I felt quite scared,” Ms Jehani said.
“I work so hard for what I have and … they don’t work hard for anything they get. They just steal and deal drugs.”