Victoria police ‘must change approach’ to out-of-control parties

Victoria Assistant Commissioner concedes police must change approach to out-of-control parties after Footscray home trashed.

Owner Kelly was left helpless to stop the damage. Picture: Aaron Francis.

A senior Victorian police officer has conceded the force has to change its approach to out-of-control parties, after police were left powerless to stop up to 150 youths of African appearance trashing a Footscray home as they had renters’ rights.

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane told Melbourne’s 3AW radio that officers will set up a new plan that will see more police dealing at out-of-control parties, led by senior officers.

“I don’t think it’s a good look, I don’t think our police like to be in this position, and I’ve asked senior police to work on an operational response plan so we can be much quicker,” he said.

“I don’t want to see these stories on the front pages of the papers.”

Stephen Leane says police approach to out-of-control parties much change. Picture: Nicole Garmston.

The Footscray house was trashed by youths, mainly of African appearance, on Sunday morning with doors smashed, paintings ripped off walls, and a television thrown out of the top floor window.

GRAPHIC: The damage

One man was arrested around 8am that morning after seven police units turned up to clear the party, after a policewoman was spat on half an hour before.

It’s the second time in 10 days that groups of youths have trashed a short-term rental, with a home in North Melbourne damaged and police cars attacked last weekend.

Damage to the bathroom.

Homeowner Kelly said yesterday she had stood outside with police at 2am in the morning while the revellers were destroying her house. Assistant Commissioner Leane confirmed police were powerless to intervene.

“We certainly have an issue around short-term rentals ... our lawyers are telling us that this is a lease, even though it’s a one night-lease, not a six-month lease,” he told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell.

“It’s a civil matter, so you’re off to VCAT if you want to try and exclude them from the premises ... if there’s no damage, no criminal issues, even the homeowner can’t ask them to leave.”

“I think we need to have a conservation about it ... From a policing point of view, we don’t have an authority (to enter the premises)”

Assistant Commissioner Leane also said he was still trying to find out why police did not enter the premises earlier despite homeowner Kelly saying they stood with her while the house was trashed.

Night shift police have told Mr Leane the situation was under control and that there was no proof of damage.

“I have two different versions ... It looks like there were no issues around music, there was no alcohol on the street, they were prompting the young people to leave and go home,” he said.

“And by 5:30 in the morning, for want of a better word, they thought they had dodged a bullet and managed to get through this.”