Police make just two arrests seven months after St Kilda foreshore brawl
POLICE have made just two arrests and charged no one after a large group of youths bashed and robbed beachgoers on the St Kilda foreshore more than seven months ago.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
POLICE have made just two arrests and not laid any charges after a large group of youths bashed and robbed beachgoers on the St Kilda foreshore more than seven months ago.
There were multiple incidents on December 13 and 14, in which dozens of youths of African appearance fought and assaulted bystanders.
Police vowed to crack down on the troublemakers, with Inspector Jason Kelly saying: “Their behaviour was just totally unacceptable and I’d call on them to come forward and hand themselves in before we track them down.”
MORE CRIMINALS BOOTED IN DUTTON BLITZ
But the Herald Sun can reveal police have struggled to apprehend most of the offenders. Footage of the trouble was widely published in the days following the incident.
At one stage, police were called to The Esplanade after about 60 youths trashed a McDonald’s outlet, throwing chairs and smashing a window.
It followed a series of assaults and robberies along the Esplanade earlier in the evening.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Lisa Beechey said the probe was ongoing and the two people who were arrested were expected to be charged on summons for offences including affray and behaving in a riotous manner.
“The scenes we saw in St Kilda in December are completely unacceptable and Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit detectives are working hard to track down those involved in the anti-social and criminal behaviour,” Ms Beechey said.
Opposition police spokesman Edward O’Donohue said it was unacceptable that only two arrests had been made.
“This was one of the worst and most violent riots Victoria has seen … two arrests out of a reported 200 rioters is one per cent so you really have to question how reliable the crime statistics are when up to 198 walk scot-free,” he said.
“Despite all his claims, the lack of arrests from this shocking riot is further evidence that Daniel Andrews hasn’t provided police with the powers and resources they need to smash these gangs.
“It’s no wonder these violent youth gangs have no fear of the justice system. A Matthew Guy government is going to take a zero-tolerance approach to violent youth gangs.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville, who didn’t address the St Kilda incident directly, said: “The Liberals continue to undermine and attack the professionalism and operational independence of Victoria Police — but we’ll continue to listen to police and give them the capabilities and resources they need to reduce crime.”