Police respond to major youth brawl in Chelsea and arrest 16 at St Kilda

Riot police and the dog squad were called in to Chelsea last night to break up a brawl, while 16 people were arrested in St Kilda as the crackdown continues.

Sixteen people were arrested in St Kilda last night, the day after Port Phillip councillors voted to ban booze in the popular precinct for summer.

The foreshore was the backdrop of yet another night of public disorder with the arrests made as part of Operation Sandsafe.

Officers made arrests for attempted robbery, assaulting police and criminal damage.

Arrests were also made for being drunk in public and drug possession.

ST KILDA BOOZE BAN GIVEN GREEN LIGHT

LAWYER X: ‘THERE MUST BE SOME VERY SERIOUS CONCERN HIGH UP’

LAWYER X: THE GANGLAND SECRETS CARL TOOK TO THE GRAVE

There was a strong police presence at St Kilda Beach last night after recent violent incidents in the area. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police on the St Kilda foreshore last night. Picture: Channel 9

Police also searched more than 123 people and charged one person for having a knife.

In Chelsea, riot police and the dog squad swarmed the seaside suburb after a large group of unruly youths started brawling.

The incident, involving mainly youths of African appearance, unfolded at a carpark on Bath St shortly after 6pm on Thursday.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police attended and spoke to a number of youths who had reportedly been fighting among themselves.

“Police moved the youths on without making any arrests and they made their way to the Chelsea foreshore,” she told the Herald Sun.

“Police remained in the area, patrolling the foreshore and the shopping precinct for the next several hours responding to reports of unruly and anti-social behaviour by several groups of youths.”

Mounted units at St Kilda Beach last night. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Members from the Public Order Response Team and Canine Unit helped local police at the scene.

Witness Alex said he believed there were up to 50 youths in the area and he saw some yelling at police.

“There was a huge police presence, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” he told the Herald Sun.

The youths were all dispersed by 11pm.

Police issued two infringement notices for summary offences.