By Alesha Capone
Call-outs to “rowdy” parties at short-term accommodation properties are a weekly occurrence in Wyndham, according to police.
Senior Sergeant Aaron Riches said it was “all too easy” for a young person to post a party’s venue on social media, inviting “anyone and everyone”.
He said police are concerned that parents and guardians are taking youngsters to parties without asking questions about the events.
Police responded to several triple-0 calls in relation to one “party” on January 16.
Officers arrived at a short-stay rental house in Tarneit about 5am to find about 200 teenagers, many of whom were intoxicated.
Senior Sergeant Riches said there were no “responsible adults” present at the house, which had been rented out by 17-year-olds.
“The place was completely trashed and it was disgusting – there were holes in the walls and tables upturned,” Senior Sergeant Riches said.
“We’re finding these things are happening weekly in our area – they are generally happening each week and each weekend.”
“As police, if we don’t get on to it quite early and shut it down, we can get up to 200 kids on the site.”
Senior Sergeant Riches said that officers spent a significant amount of time trying to make sure each youth could get home safely after shutting down parties.
“Some kids wander off and they don’t want to talk to police,” he said.
“It takes hours to make sure all these kids are safe, which ties up police resources.”
He said that many of the party goers who wandered off would be intoxicated, putting them at a greater risk of falling victim to crimes or injuring themselves.
He called on parents to ask for details about where their children were going.
“Often parents are dropping off a carload of five kids somewhere between 9pm and 1am and there are no questions being asked,” he said.
“You’ve got to know where the kids are, who they’re with and if there are going to be adults present.”
