Police have now arrested 13 youths, including some as young as 13 years old, following a foiled gang knife fight in Watergardens earlier this month.
At around 5pm on 5 April, detectives from Brimbank Crime Investigation Unit and local police were called to the local shopping centre, following reports of a group of 12 youths causing a disturbance.
Upon police arrival, each of the youths were searched, with two found in possession of a machete and knife respectively.
A 15-year-old boy from Deer Park and a 14-year-old boy from St Albans were arrested on the night and initially charged with possession of a controlled weapon.
A further four machetes and a tactical knife were located hidden in nearby bushes on the night, while shopping centre security also located another machete.
Shortly after these searches, police conducted a further patrol around the shopping centre, locating two more groups of youths in a Mazda CX7 wagon and a Ford Falcon sedan.
Police located an imitation firearm under the driver’s seat of the Ford Falcon sedan, arresting the 19-year-old male driver from Kings Park. He was charged with related weapons offences.
A further four machetes, three knives, an extendable baton, and a box cutter were located in the Mazda CX7 wagon.
Overall police seized nine machetes, five knives, one extendable baton, one box cutter, and one imitation firearm on the evening.
Following the averted confrontation, the Brimbank and Melton Offender Management Team and Proactive Policing Unit made a series of follow up arrests between 10 and 16 April.
The 15-year-old boy from Deer Park and 14-year-old boy from St Albans were re-arrested. As a result, the 15-year-old was also charged with affray and being armed with criminal intent, while the 14-year-old was located with a further machete when he was arrested which was seized. He was charged with affray, behave in a riotous manner, being armed with criminal intent and possession of a controlled weapon. Both will appear before a children’s court at a later date.
A further ten youths were arrested and charged in connection to the incident. All were bailed to appear before children’s courts at later dates. They include:
• Six boys charged with affray and behave in a riotous manner in a public place including two 13-year-olds from St Albans, two 15-year-olds from Keilor Downs, a 15-year-old from Taylors Lakes, and a 15-year-old from Taylors Hill.
• Four boys charged with affray, behave in a riotous manner in a public place, being armed with criminal intent and possess controlled weapon, including a 14-year-old from Keilor Downs, a 14-year-old from Aintree, a 15-year-old from St Albans, and a 15-year-old from Diggers Rest. The 14-year-old from Keilor Downs was also charged with possessing cannabis.
Victoria Police continues to relentlessly pursue those connected to youth gangs as part of Operation Alliance.
In the twelve months to the end of March 2023, Operation Alliance has led to the arrest of 448 known youth gang members a combined 1,422 times.
Since Operation Alliance commenced in September 2020, the number of known Victorian youth gang members on Victoria Police’s watchlist has decreased from 747 to 625.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppersvic.com.auExternal Link
