‘We will find those drivers’: Police investigate Chapel Street hoons

Police have branded a group of hoons reckless and irresponsible after they descended on Chapel Street on Saturday night and did burnouts as pedestrians watched on.

Hundreds of people gathered at Station Pier in Port Melbourne before driving their cars to South Yarra about 7.30pm on Saturday.

Police placed traffic diversions along Chapel Street to reduce the movement of the group, but video from the scene showed a car doing burnouts outside the Temperance Hotel in South Yarra.

No one was arrested, but several drivers were issued infringement notices for hooning and defect notices for modified vehicles.

A police spokeswoman could not confirm how many people were given infringement notices.

Inspector Georgie Swinton called the behaviour of those gathered on Chapel Street “reckless and irresponsible” on Sunday.

A car does a burnout on Chapel Street on Saturday night. Credit: Nine

“That’s one of our major entertainment precincts … If one of those cars gets out of control, they’re going to take out a pedestrian,” she said. “A number of drivers engaged in some really dangerous driving, and we will find those drivers.

“I note there has been footage of one particular driver doing some very reasonable burnouts. We will identify him, he will be charged and his car will be impounded.”

Member for Prahran Rachel Westaway called on the government to put more police in the area.

“Saturday night’s dangerous hooning on Chapel Street was completely unacceptable and put lives at risk,” Westaway said on Sunday.

“Our police are doing incredible work with limited resources, but they need back-up. The Allan Labor government must act now – more police for Prahran and zero tolerance for this reckless behaviour. Our community deserves better.”

Swinton said police were combing footage of the event to identify more drivers involved in hoon behaviour.

People gather near the corner of Chapel and Simmons streets in South Yarra on Saturday night.Credit: Nine

More than 5000 people had said they were interested in attending the “Bring Back Chap Laps” event scheduled on Facebook.

Anyone who witnessed dangerous driving, or has footage or any other information that could help police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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