How African youths are leaving Tarneit residents fearful and frustrated

ABOUT 10 African kids were loitering in the heat outside Tarneit’s Ecoville Community Park when reporter Aaron Langmaid dropped by for a chat. The first exchange was polite enough, but things escalated quickly. WARNING: Confronting content.

THE first question to roll off the tongue of the African kid, as he leaned out the window of a white station wagon, was innocent enough.

But it marked the only polite exchange of the day.

“Hey, man, you got a cigarette?’’ he said.

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But almost before he received a reply, the car sped off, leaving behind about 10 other teenagers, loitering in the heat outside the Ecoville Community Park in Tarneit.

“You better not be trying to take our photo,’’ said one.

“You don’t want to die on New Year’s Day.

“And I’ll f---ing kill you.’’

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A youth at the trashed Ecoville Community Centre in Tarneit. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Another youth, his back to the wall, the peak of his cap slanted across his face, didn’t take kindly to questions.

“What are we doing here?’’ he said. “We’re f---ing your grandmother, that’s what we are doing.’’

The group was an ominous presence, leering, yelling, leaning on fences, throwing rocks, spouting obscenities.

Nearby, the footpath was littered with “nangs’’ — little canisters that hold nitrous oxide, normally used in whipped cream siphons but which can be easily inhaled for a quick buzz.

But these African youths have been getting their thrills in other ways, too.

The trashed Ecoville Community Centre. Picture: Nicole Garmston

For months, they have been congregating in large numbers late into the night.

Locals say they zero in on innocent residents jogging past or walking their dogs, mounting verbal or even physical attacks without rhyme or reason.

A man attacked by three African teens two months ago was repeatedly punched and kicked, and suffered a major eye injury.

Residents who avoid the area are quick to dismiss critics who argue that the escalation in crime isn’t linked to African youths.

“They are out of control,’’ Paul Singh, 34, said.

“They should be punished or sent home. But here they are — not scared of anybody.

“It’s terror,’’ he said.

“Terror for our kids, our families, and our wives. I always feel scared, and these guys are getting away with it.’’

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Paul Singh is fearful of the African gang culture in Tarneit. Picture: David Smith

Mr Singh places the blame squarely on the state ­government.

He urged Premier Daniel Andrews to give authorities greater powers to end the crime wave.

Five police officers arrived at the centre just after 1pm on Monday.

Ushering the youths away from the building, they questioned them for almost 20 minutes, then left after the group appeared to walk away.

Police talk to youths at the trashed Ecoville Community Park in Tarneit. Picture: Nicole Garmston

But it meant little to watching neighbours, who said that by 8pm, the youths would be back, and in far greater numbers.

The gangs hanging around the community centre for months have been linked to vandalism sprees.

Another Tarneit resident, Harish Rai, 57, said he was still waiting to be formally interviewed by police after being attacked.

“I went for a walk through the park and they were watching me,’’ he said.

“I heard them laughing and then they came from nowhere. They punched and kicked me.

“I used to walk every day. Now I know not to.’’

There have been other victims, too. Some have been robbed, their mobile phones or wallets ripped out of their hands.

“It’s scary,’’ Mr Rai said.

“Nobody should have to live like this.’’

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