Onlookers told to move on

POLICE will now have the power to move on spectators at hoon gatherings in Greater Dandenong.
Councillors last Tuesday approved amendments to local laws that included expanding regulated activities provisions to encompass public gatherings, processions, rallies and demonstrations.
The provisions now also cover people organising or participating in an event, for instances where someone has used social media to arrange a gathering but has not attended.
The changes followed submissions from police trying to curb hoon behaviour and will enable officers to require any person at an unauthorised gathering to leave.
The council report said the municipality was invariably in the top 10 locations for hooning offences detected and occasionally slipped into the top five.
“Police currently have a range of powers available to deal with the drivers of vehicles engaging in these activities,” it said.
“However, they do not have any general powers available to them for moving spectators away from a gathering.
“Being able to disperse spectators quickly is seen as an important aspect of reducing the risk of injury to these people.”
The Journal first reported Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol’s Senior Sergeant Scott Roberts’ push for these changes in June last year.
“Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. They’re only down there for one reason,” he said.
“It’s going to end badly one of these nights.”
Sen Sgt Roberts said gatherings of “a couple of hundred cars” in Dandenong South were common and burnouts and street racing ensued.
He said the behaviour was drawing “precious resources” away from where they were needed most.
Police will use the bylaws in addition to operations with marked and unmarked police cars, hidden cameras and vehicle impound measures.
Sen Sgt Roberts urged anyone who found out about organised hoon meetings to inform police and to report any hoon activity they witnessed.