Machete-wielding teenagers clash with police at Brighton East carols event

In the latest bout of youth violence to hit Melbourne’s bayside suburbs, up to 10 teens armed with machetes fought at a Christmas Carols night in a Brighton East park, with families and children watching on.

Youths armed with machetes clashed with police outside the Bayside Christmas Carols in Brighton East on Tuesday night.

Police arrested three teenagers after youths with machetes were fighting at the family event in Dendy Park about 8.30pm.

The Herald Sun understands as many as 10 youths were involved in the fight that broke out at Dendy Park before the group fled.

Footage captured nearby on Glencairn Ave showed at least three youths being chased by police before they were arrested about 9pm.

Two officers chased the group on foot before a police car arrived moments later.

CCTV footage shows police arriving to make arrests in Glencairn Ave. Picture: Supplied

Brighton resident Niki Mitchell-Adams, who attended the Christmas event, told the Herald Sun a loud group of teenagers was swearing and yelling before the knife fight broke out.

She said the event remained a “wonderful” family affair, but many people noticed the major police presence.

A 15-year-old boy and two 16-year-old boys have all been charged and bailed with three counts of affray, three counts of assault with a weapon, three counts of unlawful assault and three counts of possess controlled weapon.

They will appear at a children’s court at a later date.

Police returned to Glencairn Ave on Wednesday morning to search neighbours’ driveways, where it is understood some of the teens disposed of the machetes they brandished at the community event.

One resident said she saw police placing handcuffs on the teens during their arrest.

Several other neighbours, who did not want to be named, said they were frustrated, but not surprised, that the three teens arrested had already been bailed.

Another resident, Annie, said she briefly attended the carols with her husband before “mayhem” unfolded on her doorstep.

“This year, there was a lot of young people not there for the carols, and I did not feel comfortable staying,” she said.

“We heard at about 8.30pm yelling and turning of cars, and there was mayhem out on the street.

“The police were here. They had pulled into a driveway of the neighbour across the road, and they were basically wrestling on the ground with a guy trying to apprehend someone.

“There were other guys hanging around as well and yelling out things, they sat on the fence at the house across the road and kept on yelling at the police and swearing at them.”

A police officer gives chase to some of the teenagers involved in the brawl.

A second police car arrived shortly after to pick up the arrested teenagers.

“I tell you what, it just put such a dampener on the carols,” Ms Wallace said.

“This is our 34th year of living in this area, and we’ve never had an incident like that in the street.

“A machete being found in a neighbour’s yard is so concerning.”

Brighton MP James Newbury said the recent spate of violent crimes in the area showed Victoria’s bail laws were “cooked”.

“Thousands of people came out to celebrate Christmas, to have a wonderful night with their kids to sing along to Christmas carols, and instead, gangs turned up at this beautiful family event armed with machetes,” he said.

BREAKING: ARMED GANGS AT CAROLS.

Thousands attended Bayside Carols in Brighton East last night. Families watched as gangs with machetes arrived and clashed with Police. A chase followed down Glencairn Ave with offenders dumping machetes over fences as the chase ensued. Police…

— James Newbury MP (@newbury3186) December 10, 2024

“Children would have been at this event, watching on as a gang fight took place with machetes and knives would have seen police and these offenders clash running down the streets, weapons being thrown over fences before the arrest took place,”

“No one should have to see this.

“This government is allowing crimes by not having strong enough laws to protect the community.

“It has to stop. The laws in this state are cooked, and Premier Jacinta Allan is responsible.

“To think that the criminals of last night were out on bail before news even broke, tells you something is wrong with this state.”

The ordeal unfolded just a day after a “mass aggravated burglary” nearby, where thieves stole two cars belonging to high-profile defence barrister Dermot Dann.

No one was injured during the incident. Picture: Facebook

Mr Newbury said: “Only yesterday, a swarm home invasion occurred just down the road where car loads of home invaders came into the community and attacked multiple homes over the morning”.

“This is this must stop. The bail laws in this state are a joke.”

No one was injured in the incident.

The Christmas event, run by the Bayside City Council, is dubbed the “biggest night in the Bayside calendar”.

Pre-show entertainment began at 5.30pm, with performances starting at 7:30pm and fireworks two hours later at 9:30pm.

Bayside City Council said the incident occurred outside the carols in the park event boundary and the event was not impacted.

“Council works proactively with Victoria Police and private security to ensure the safety of all attendees at carols,” they said in a statement.