Wild teenage parties creating unnecessary drain on police resources
POLICE are being called to wild parties for teens as young as 14 as the force deplores the waste of valuable crime-fighting resources, with some celebrations attracting more than 500 revellers.
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POLICE are being called to wild parties for teens as young as 14 as the force deplores the waste of valuable crime-fighting resources.
Officers have been struck with rocks and sticks when trying to break up some celebrations, which can attract more than 500 revellers.
But Victoria Police stresses problem parties are a rarity.
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Commander Stuart Bateson, of the Communities Division, said while most parties were held without incident, a lack of planning and gatecrashers at some were creating an avoidable problem.
“There would certainly be a number of police units that are tied up on a Friday or Saturday night throughout Melbourne,’’ Mr Bateson said.
“Generally, that is a quick attendance — we ask people to turn down their music and keep it down and respect their neighbours But on occasions it requires multiple units for long periods of time.
“Victoria Police would, of course, like to be doing something else to keep the public safe and not attending and being security looking after parties. But we realise that sometimes that is what is required of us.”
Celebrations involving youths aged 14 and 15 had gone awry but the bulk of problems were among those aged between 16 and 21.
Easy availability of luxury homes for short-term rental was an ongoing issue.
Last Sunday, as many as 50 rampaging youths trashed a North Melbourne rental before running across the tops of police cars and attacking officers, while a violent out-of-control party at a Werribee Airbnb property last December only ended when riot police were called.
In January, police were pelted with glass bottles as they shut down a Hawaiian-themed beach party involving 300 youths at Point Lonsdale.
“Sometimes a pack mentality develops and we’ve seen that on occasion when our members have been pelted with bottles or rocks or sticks, but thankfully those types of incidents are few and far between,’’ Mr Bateson said.
“It’s when that party gets out of control and the hosts no longer know the people in the house anymore — they’ve got gatecrashers there, they’ve got disrespect going on — that’s when we realise sometimes that we have to step in and shut that party down.
“We’ve been at out-of-control parties when there has been over 500 people — it really does get into some large numbers.
“That’s when even the hosts go, ‘oh my God! What is happening’. Suddenly you are in all sorts of trouble.”
Police advise party hosts not to advertise on social media, plan how to handle uninvited guests and have nondrinking adults supervising all night.
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