By Alesha Capone
Police in Wyndham, Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay are working with a taskforce investigating street gangs across the state, to tackle the issue within the western suburbs.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said that Operation Alliance was established in September 2020, to disrupt and dismantle street gangs.
The spokesperson said that since then, the Westgate police division has been running regular local operations, investigations and early intervention initiatives to disrupt those committing crimes in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
The efforts are being led by officers in a group known as the Westgate Alliance Taskforce.
“Detectives and uniform police officers from Wyndham, Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay who are regularly supported by specialist units such as the Gang Crime Squad, Public Order Response Team, Dog Squad and Highway Patrol as part of the operation,” the spokesperson said.
“Gangs aren’t solely restricted to offending in their local neighbourhood, as they often strike in a sequence and have no reservations travelling across the western suburbs, into Melbourne or through regional Victoria to commit further crimes.”
The spokesperson said this is why police have “an integrated and coordinated approach” through the sharing of real-time intelligence across the state, to remain one step ahead of offenders and identify key influencers within gangs.
“We know the people in these youth gangs and groups are committing serious crimes such as carjackings and home invasions that deeply traumatise victims and leave long lasting impacts,” the spokesperson said.
“That is why police work tirelessly as part of Operation Alliance to detect, disrupt and dismantle youth gangs before they can cause significant harm to the community.”
On January 26, officers from the Westgate Alliance Taskforce charged four teenagers with a range of offences including violent disorder, affray, armed with criminal intent, theft and weapons offences.
The charges related to a serious affray that occurred within a Werribee shopping centre carpark on January 6 about 9.40pm,.
Some participants in the incident were allegedly armed with machetes and knives.
Multiple people were allegedly seriously assaulted during the affray.
