Jailed African street gang thugs waiting to be deported

Seven thugs linked to violent African street gangs will soon be deported.

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville. Picture: AAP

Seven thugs linked to violent African street gangs terrorising Victoria have had their visas cancelled and are awaiting deportation, as part of a state and federal government attempt to bust ethnic gang crime in Melbourne.

Home Affairs officials told The Australian they had deported an African gang member to New Zealand, and were preparing to deport another six men referred to the department by Victoria Police for crimes and involvement in African street gangs.

Six of the seven men have tried to appeal against their visa cancellations. Two are in immigration detention and the remaining four are in jail waiting to hear the outcome of their appeals.

Victoria Police yesterday conceded the state was battling an ­African street gang problem, after more than two years of refusing to label it a gang issue.

The long-running issue has boiled over in the past week, while Victoria’s top three leaders are on holiday.

Premier Daniel Andrews, his deputy James Merlino and Lower House leader Jacinta Allan remain on their summer break.

 

The state’s top policeman, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, is on extended leave.

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville conceded yesterday the gangs, which have committed home invasions, carjacking and bashings, had left communities quaking in fear, and that the government and police would lock them up to stop the crime spree. “It is absolutely un­acceptable to see communities terrorised and the fear created that we’ve seen,” Ms Neville said.

Their comments represent a sharp departure for Victoria Police and the Andrews government, which has consistently refused to label a violent crime wave gripping some parts of Melbourne as an ­African gang problem.

Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp last week said “there is no evidence or intelligence to suggest we’ve got a gang” following reports a park and community centre were trashed by African teens in Tarneit in the city’s west.

Malcolm Turnbull on Monday said the Andrews government was failing to tackle lawlessness and gang violence in Melbourne. The Prime Minister accused Premier Daniel Andrews of lacking “political leadership and determination”.

Yesterday, senior federal MPs said they were glad Victorian politicians were calling the attacks out for what they were, but the delay in naming the issue had made it worse. “It’s a step in the right direction to finally call it out for what it is, but its two years too late,” ­Latrobe MP Jason Wood said.

Former Victoria Police chief commissioner Kel Glare said political correctness was part of the reason police had been so reluctant to call the thugs African street gangs. “It’s been crystal clear that there’s been a cohort of Sudanese committing very serious crimes.”