By Kerri-Anne Mesner
POLICE need a greater presence in Brimbank, according to the Police Association. It said this was highlighted by the gatecrashed party in St Albans on 6 July where three boys were seriously injured.
The boys, aged between 14 and 17, were injured after up to 30 people broke into the private party at the St Albans Saints’ Soccer Club.
The 15-year-old was stabbed in the stomach, the 17-year-old suffered serious head injuries and the 14-year-old was treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital for minor injuries. Five others were badly hurt in the brawl.
The Police Association secretary, Senior Sergeant Paul Mullett, said the association was campaigning for a new enterprise bargaining agreement that would ensure Victorians received the highest level of community safety.
“The deplorable events that took place in St Albans earlier this month highlight the need for a greater police presence in the Brimbank community,” Sen Sgt Mullet said.
“Safe communities need police on the street.
“To achieve this, there must be a commitment to improve the allocation of resources, curb attrition rates and attract new people into policing through the provision of proper pay and conditions.
“The Police Association supports greater police patrols at peak times — we certainly do not want to see a repeat of the abominable events that took place at the St Albans party.
“To ensure continued safety of all communities across the state, we need a sufficiently resourced, experienced and properly paid force.”
Brimbank City Council staff met Sunshine police officers on Wednesday night to discuss safety issues in the municipality, with the St Albans incident raised.
“We met (Detective) Inspector Scott Mahony and other senior police officers on Wednesday and discussed the Churchill Reserve incident,” the council’s city development and statutory services general manager, Peter Collina, said.
“We discussed ideas and proposals to minimise the risk of similar incidents recurring at club venues.
“Proposals discussed included “party safe kits” to be made available to clubs and organisers of parties or functions, registration or notification of parties with the police in advance, so they could program them in with their patrols, and providing advice to party organisers based on risk assessment.
“These proposals will be developed further between the police and council, he said.”
A police spokesman said parents had been acting as security on the night of the incident and a couple had been injured.
About 270 people had been invited to the party, with about 27 school associations involved.
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The police spokesman said the Western Metropolitan MP Bernie Finn had raised concerns in parliament this month that the incident at St Albans was related to ethnic gang warfare.
This was an avenue of inquiry the police were following up during their investigation.
A 16-year-old Kings Park youth and a 17-year-old from Taylors Hill have each been charged with one count of riot, affray, aggravated burglary and seven counts of intentionally causing serious injury.
The 17-year-old was also charged with two counts of resisting arrest.
A 17-year-old Delahey youth was charged with intentionally causing serious injury and affray.
The youths have been released on bail and will appear in Sunshine Children’s Court on 15 October.
A group of about 30 youths gatecrashed the party at the St Albans Saints Soccer Club on Fox Road about 10.50pm on 6 July.
It is believed a large brawl ensued and the intruding group produced a range of knives and machetes.
The spokesman said more charges could be laid and, as the investigation continued, it would become more apparent what avenues of prosecution were open to police.
