State of disorder: Police nab teens for party mayhem

Police made several arrests related to out-of-control house parties in Melbourne as they cracked down on African youth crime.

Police made a sweep of arrests yesterday connected to recent out-of-control house parties in Melbourne as they cracked down on African youth crime.

It was revealed a community taskforce of African-Australian leaders had assisted police in the arrests, after questions had been raised about the group’s ­effectiveness.

Four youths were arrested yesterday over a party in North Melbourne last month where police cars were smashed and ­officers were forced to take shelter. And a 17-year-old was ­arrested and charged with criminal damage yesterday over a separate party at a short-term rental home in Footscray, where 150 youths attended and wrecked the property.

Acting Commander David Clayton said the African-Australian Community Taskforce had helped police in both the North Melbourne and Footscray investigations.

“They have assisted us along the way, yes,” he said. “We do ask them for assistance when matters like these occur but the work they do is more longer-term ... around addressing the under-lying causal issues.”

A 16-year-old boy, an 18-year-old man, and two 17-yeas-olds were interviewed by Victoria Police yesterday over the North Melbourne party and released pending further inquiries.

A 17-year-old from Sunshine West, arrested over the Footscray party, was bailed and will appear at the Children’s Court at a later date.

A 20-year-old Truganina man was charged with theft on Thursday in relation to the Footscray incident and will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 13.

North Melbourne investigation unit detectives also seized a laptop and mobile phones.

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

The North Melbourne incident took place on April 29 when a group of up to 50 youths, reportedly of African appearance, caused significant damage to the property and attacked police cars.

Following the Footscray party on May 6, police conceded that they needed a new approach to dealing with out-of-control gatherings at short-term rentals.