Police minister admits to Melbourne’s youth gang problem: bashing victim’s parents

Police minister Lisa Neville admitted to Melbourne’s gang violence problem, according to sensational claims by the parents of a teenage boy who was bashed twice in Werribee by young thugs.

Police Minister Lisa Neville admitted to Melbourne’s gang violence problem, a victim’s parents claim. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

The parents of a teenage boy bashed twice by young thugs in the western suburbs claim Victoria’s police minister has admitted Melbourne has a problem with gang violence.

Jayden D’Abaco, 19, was ambushed by up to eight youths of African appearance while walking alone in Werribee last month.

The boy, who has autism, was also attacked by youths on a bus in Tarneit in 2017.

Jayden D'Abaco was hospitalised after the gang ambush in Werribee.

His father, Frank D’Abaco, last week stood on the front steps of parliament and even attended question time in an effort to speak to premier Daniel Andrews.

Yesterday he and his wife, Tessa D’Abaco, settled for a meeting with police minister Lisa Neville and local MP Tim Pallas at Werribee police station.

Ms D’Abaco said Ms Neville admitted Melbourne has a gang violence problem.

“It’s a little bit positive she said we have a gang problem but whether something done about it is another thing,” she told the Herald Sun.

“It’s not the admission we want, it’s tougher laws.

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“She said they are doing their best to put things in place to make things tougher.”

Detectives are still scouring CCTV footage of the night of the incident. No one has been arrested.

Yesterday, police revealed almost 400 youths, some as young as 12, had been charged with almost 1000 offences in a new teen crime crackdown.

The charges were laid as part of Operation Tidal, focused on youths in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs.

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