Police have vowed to crack down on trouble-makers at Altona beach after a pizza maker was attacked and brawls erupted over two warm nights last week.
Sergeant Dave Arnold, who heads up the summer policing team, said police were trying to put a lid on antisocial behaviour of the type witnessed last week.
“It does appear to be people outside the area,” he said. “I can confirm that there was a fight there on Monday night and a person was arrested and charged.”
Star Weekly understands that a pizza-maker intervened after seeing a group of teenagers drinking and was struck on the back of the head with a stick. A 15-year-old from Kurunjang has been charged with assault offences and bailed to appear in a Children’s Court in February.
Sergeant Arnold confirmed that police back- up was called in on Tuesday last week after brawls erupted at Logan Reserve.
“There were a number of what I’ll call scuffles amongst groups,” he said. “As a result we put a very heavy police response into place … until the groups decided to leave. We won’t tolerate antisocial behaviour and will do everything in our powers to prevent breaches of the peace so that everyone can have an enjoyable and safe time at the beach this year.”
Altona residents took to social media to voice their disgust at outsiders coming into their suburb and trashing it, with some calling for a permanent police caravan or kiosk. Head of the Altona Village Traders Association Kim Walsh said a private security guard employed by businesses would be patrolling the streets.
“They are out-of-towners … they just seem hell-bent on causing trouble with their antisocial behaviour. We don’t want those people in our town,” he said. “We’ve worked our bums off to make our town a safe and enjoyable place, and it’s very disheartening that you can only have one or two small incidents and it undoes all that good work.”
Hobsons Bay deputy mayor Colleen Gates said the council was working closely with traders, police and the lifesaving club to ensure the community’s expectations of safety and cleanliness were met.
“If people behave sensibly, clean up after themselves and are respectful of others then everyone can enjoy our foreshore areas this summer,” she said. “Incidents of vandalism, theft or other crimes should be reported immediately to Victoria Police.”
Fines of $200 will be issued to anyone caught with an open container of alcohol at the beach or within an area bounded by Romawi and Bayview streets and Civic Parade.
Lockers to store valuables are being installed at the Altona Lifesaving Club.
Police are urging people not to bring any valuables to the beach.
