Four youths arrested over wild Melbourne house party

Four youths have been arrested over a Melbourne house party where police cars were attacked and officers were forced to hide.

North Melbourne detectives also issued six search warrants. Picture: David Crosling

Four youths have been arrested over an out-of-control house party in North Melbourne late last month, where police cars were attacked and officers were forced to hide in the house.

A 16-year-old boy, an 18-year-old man, and two 17-years-olds were arrested this morning and interview by Victoria Police, and have since been released pending further inquiries.

North Melbourne detectives also issued six search warrants. A laptop and mobile phones were seized.

Police were called to a short-term rental home in North Melbourne on April 29 were a group of up to 50 youths reportedly of African appearance had caused significant damage to the property.

Police car windows were also smashed and, for a time, officers had to hide in the house due to the size of the crowds.

The latest arrests come as three men were charged on Wednesday with criminal damage over a similar incident in Footscray on May 6.

Maribyrnong detectives are still investigating that matter and have released pictures of two men African appearance who they believe could help them with their inquiries.

Following the two parties, police conceded that they needed a new approach to dealing with out-of-control gatherings at short term rentals.

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane has ordered senior officers set up a operational response plan.

“I’ve asked senior police to work on an operational-response plan so we can be much quicker in our responses to these things and that we can escalate and have enough of the right police there, and have senior police there to take charge,” he told 3AW last week.

Acting Commander David Clayton said he expected the boys to be charged after police had properly evaluated the evidence.

He also confirmed the African-Australian Community Taskforce, set up last summer, have been involved in the two investigations.

“They have assisted us along the way,” he said.

“We do ask them for assistance when matters like these occur but the work is more longer-term around addressing the underlying causal issues.”