Toughen the fight against gang thugs

HOW long before the lawless thugs of the Apex gang kill somebody during a home invasion or carjacking, writes Rita Panahi.

HOW long before the lawless thugs of the Apex gang kill somebody during a home invasion or carjacking?

Perhaps then police command and the state government will deign to speak openly to the Victorian people about an ill that is not going away anytime soon

MAN CLAIMS BASHING IN ATTACK LINKED TO APEX

SUSPECTED APEX MEMBERS ARRESTED

The level of violence displayed by gang members, predominately of African origin, is escalating with a spate of home invasions, carjackings, bashings and thefts across Melbourne.

As police officers at the coalface battle to contain the problem, those in command continue to trot out politically correct lines that seek to diminish the threat posed by teens and young men engaging in mindless violence.

One can understand why the upper echelons of Victoria Police are gun shy after paying out a small fortune to settle cases where youths from ethnic minorities accused members of the force of racial profiling and police brutality.

However the actions of a few rogue cops should not hamstring police efforts to counter gangs whose membership is dominated by a particular ethnic group whether they be Sudanese, South Sudanese, Somali or Islander.

There is a marked difference between racially profiling young men who have done nothing wrong and vigorously pursuing perpetrators who have broken the law and who happen to belong to an ethnic minority.

Christine Nixon’s legacy is still evident with sections of Victoria Police all too reluctant to address the issue for fear of appearing bigoted.

Gang members, whose lack of respect for authority is palpable, know precisely what accusations to make when questioned by police.

Police Association of Victoria secretary Ron Iddles explains that some officers are reluctant to pursue offenders for fear of being labelled racist.

“Let us not mince words, Victoria Police and the state government have become too timid towards ethnic-based gangs,” Mr Iddles wrote.

Police Association of Victoria secretary Ron Iddles. Picture: Ian Currie

“Their timidity is because of political correctness.

“Police have been handcuffed by fears of being labelled racist.

“The ethnic gangs then become emboldened and believe they can indulge in violence with impunity.

“We abandon our responsibilities to the wider community if we create a political, social and administrative environment that tempts us to turn a blind eye.”

The Apex gang’s violent rampage through the streets of Melbourne during the Moomba Festival was a wakeup call for many in the community.

In the immediate aftermath we had a rare bout of tough talk from Premier Dan Andrews who vowed to “smash” the gangs.

“Those who perpetrated these crimes will feel the full force of the law,’’ Mr Andrews said.

“I am not interested in any of these ‘poor me’ stories.”

A few days later he announced a $2.1 million grant for a Community Harmony Program to run forums, sports programs and fund mediators.

Precisely the type of indulgent, namby-pamby response that costs plenty and achieves nothing.

In the weeks following the Moomba rampage there have been more than 60 arrests of people suspected of links to the Apex gang. But it appears these young men have no fear of police, the court system or juvenile detention.

They have caused havoc in the juvenile justice system with a source telling the Herald Sun: “The problem is these kids don’t mind going there. They end up hanging out together and playing video games all day. They see it as no big deal, an easy time.”

In the past week we have heard about a series of brutal attacks involving Apex gang members, some of whom have been on bail for similar offences, targeting overseas students, families and luxury car owners.

Police spray crowds with pepper spray to end a massive brawl at Federation Square during Moomba festivities. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

There’s nothing thugs love more than a soft target; someone who can’t or won’t fight back.

It’s not hard to see why international students, particularly of Asian background, are being preyed upon by the Apex gang and others who seem more interested in terrorising their victims than profiting from their crimes.

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to find a group of armed men rampaging through your home, stealing your property, beating you and your housemates and threatening worse.

That is the impression of the “world’s most liveable city” that some Asian students are taking back home. There are now disturbing reports that the student victims of the Ormond home invasion were not only robbed and beaten but were subjected to demeaning behaviour of a sexual nature.

A few hours before the attack on the students, the same group is believed to have stormed a Brighton East home.

“This madness needs to stop,” said the victim who was left “battered and bruised”.

“It is only a matter of time before an invasion will result in an innocent death.”

The victim described how the police, who have been left demoralised by new anti-pursuit policies, simply stood by while the assailants sped repeatedly past the home: “When I screamed ‘Why don’t you stop them?’, they said ‘We are not allowed’.”

Is this the society we want? Where police meekly observe criminal behaviour instead of pursuing offenders? Where political correctness and weasel words usurp the truth?

The ideologues of the left who want to blame poverty, isolation and racism for the rise of ethnic gangs are part of the problem.

In their eagerness to blame societal ills, real and imagined, they absolve these violent thugs of any responsibility.

We must empower police to do their job instead of emasculating them with harebrained policies designed to placate troublemakers.

Law enforcement should not take a secondary role to community engagement.

RITA PANAHI IS A HERALD SUN COLUMNIST