Police swoop on teen gang members head of White Night
Sixteen teens linked to violent street gangs have been arrested over fears they were planning to cause havoc at the busy White Night festival.
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More than a dozen youths linked to violent street gangs have been bailed despite police fears they could lash out at the busy White Night festival.
Sixteen males aged 15 to 19 have been charged with affray and violent disorder over a series of incidents across the city.
All but three were bailed, despite a top Victoria Police cop warning of potential safety risks if they were free this weekend.
Those still on remand include boys aged 15 to 18, charged with additional bail related offences.
They will appear at the Children’s Court and Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later today.
The other 13 males will appear in court on a later date.
Vision shows the men being led away from homes in handcuffs before first light this morning.
Their arrests follow a series of alleged affrays across the southeast and western suburbs over the past few weeks, as tensions grow between violent rival gangs.
This includes an armed assault on four people at an address on Barkley St, Footscray on July 31.
The teens were also wanted over violent incidents in Hallam and Oakleigh on August 9 and Dandenong on August 14.
Several mobile phones were seized during the co-ordinated arrests.
A mob of armed youths threw chairs during an out-of-control brawl that left a man injured at the popular Eaton Mall in Oakleigh.
The clash, caught on camera, left terrified bystander fearing for their safety.
Police were initially called to the area following reports of an assault.
They had to use capsicum spray to break up a fight that erupted in front of them.
Two rival gangs - HP Boys and NGS - clashed in a fish and chip shop in Dandenong last week.
Two teens were stabbed with makeshift weapons, which included hedge clippers, a hammer and golf club.
Violence in the area has become so bad some traders are shutting their shops early for their own protection.
Commander Tim Hansen said the groups have been subject to ongoing police monitoring.
He hoped they would remain locked up over the busy three-day festival for the safety of the community.
“We have been doing a lot of work, starting this morning, on people we have been monitoring for some time who we think are a risk to this event and have demonstrated propensity for violence and who we see causing challenges for us in next few days,” Mr Hansen said.
The males are made up of African, Maori and caucasian youths with links to violent street gangs.
Some met while in juvenile justice, others via social media.
“These people are known to us. They are people we have been monitoring and gathering evidence around their behaviour and acts,” Mr Hansen said.
“These are people that like to assign themselves to street crime gangs.
“These street gangs conflict with each other over territorial disputes.
“We aren’t scared of them, we aren’t afraid of them.
“We are hopeful the main players who we think will cause a risk to community safety won’t be in a position to do that at White Night.
“But if these people do get bail we will hold these people to account.
“Bail is a privilege. There are conditions and we will hold you to account if you breach those conditions.”
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North West Metro Regional Crime Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Marnie Sheehy said police would not tolerate public violent incidents that put the safety of others at risk.
“Simply put – police will not tolerate those who break the law or engage in anti-social and violent behaviour that puts the safety of others at risk,” he said.
African and Maori community leaders will join forces with police at the event to quell any troubles that arise.
Over 500 police will swarm the CBD and surrounds each night of the festival to keep the community safe.
This includes the Critical Incident Response Team, Public Order Response, mounted branch, police on motorcycles and highway patrol.
Mr Hansen warned police will come down hard on anyone who causes trouble at the event.
“Our strong focus will be to make sure people aren’t at risk of being robbed, aren’t at risk of being assaulted or not exposed to unnecessary violence,” he said.
“If these people want to come into the city on the weekend and cause problems, we will be waiting for them.”
The investigation is ongoing.