Police to target drunks

By Casey Neill
POLICE are calling on parents to help them tackle anti-social behaviour in Upwey.
Belgrave’s Senior Sergeant Robert Raaymakers said locals could expect a heightened police presence in the area in the coming weeks.
“Police from Boronia and Belgrave will be involved in public order operations in the very near future with a view to curb this anti-social behaviour,” he said.
Sen Sgt Raaymakers said police had also sought assistance from local traders, particularly licensees, to try to cut off the supply of alcohol to trouble makers. He said police were also seeking assistance from the general public, particularly parents.
“Parents also need to be aware of where their children are and have a more positive input to their behaviour and culture,” he said.
The move follows an incident in Upwey on Saturday 8 March that resulted in a police officer being hit and injured by a bottle thrown by a youth.
Sen Sgt Raaymakers said a number of youths congregated in and around Upwey Railway Station and Main Street.
Belgrave police officers attended the scene after they were phoned by a concerned local. Officers arrested a number of the youths for public drunkenness and were forced to call for back-up to control the group.
“The youths were in various states of intoxication, by both alcohol and drugs,” Sen Sgt Raaymakers said.
Councillor Noel Cliff said alcohol was a major factor in a recent spike in violent behaviour.
Cr Cliff said the youths get drunk and ‘start doing stupid things’.
“They’ve got to get drunk to have fun and when they get drunk they go silly,” he said.
Cr Cliff has himself been verbally abused in Upwey after asking a youth to pick up empty cans. “It’s very sad that this is happening,” he said.
Cr Cliff said the violence was coming from a minority.
“The good kids get a splattering too, they get thrown in the bag, people assume they’re all bad.”
He said those involved may not be locals, with much of the violence stemming from railway stations.
Cr Cliff said police were doing a good job in controlling the behaviour.
“Everyone’s starting to work together,” he said.