MORE than 180 north-west residents are urging the state government to give police extra resources to end the hoon behaviour plaguing their neighbourhoods before someone is killed.
Taylors Lakes resident Silvia, who did not want her last name published, launched a petition after her husband was assaulted by a group of hoon drivers late last year.
The men were speeding down Lady Nelson Way, drag racing and doing burnouts for more than half an hour before Silvia’s husband asked them to leave.
“As soon as he started speaking to them they were punching him and pushing him,” she said. “He had to be rushed to the hospital. They were all in unregistered cars without number plates so they couldn’t be identified. We are tired of living our lives in fear.”
Silvia told the Weekly she was afraid to be identified, fearing the hoons could attack her family again.
“The residents of Taylors Lakes have had enough,” she said.
“The police have been really supportive, but we need more serious action to be taken before more people get assaulted or killed. It’s a constant issue in the area, particularly on Sunshine Avenue, down Lady Nelson Way, and on the Melton Highway.”
The Weekly reported in December that 124 Melton drivers had their cars impounded in 2012, compared to 78 in 2011. In Brimbank, 252 drivers ‘lost’ their cars, compared to 307 the previous year.
Melton’s Leading Senior Constable Allan Edwards said it wasn’t uncommon for physical assaults to be linked to hooning. “Unfortunately, these people think they are invincible and above the law,” he said. “We urge residents not to approach the offenders and instead call police immediately.”
Senior Constable Edwards said hotspots in the north-west included streets in Taylors Lakes, Melton Highway, Plumpton Road in Melton, Calder Park Drive and the back streets of Hillside.
Industrial lots in Deer Park, particularly off Robinson Road, have also been the location of illegal drag racing meets.
“Social media is making it progressively difficult for police to catch offenders because they are doing it in secluded spots where police aren’t going to be called immediately,” he said. “Once police arrive many of the cars speed off in different directions.”
Brimbank’s Acting Sergeant David England said highway patrol officers would close in on areas of Kings Park, Sunshine and Taylors Lakes from next Monday.
He said police were reviewing files to close in on repeat offenders residing locally. “There will be police patrolling these areas in unmarked cars, with automatic number plate recognition and speed cameras set up,” he said.
“It’s an ongoing issue and we will be cracking down on reckless drivers and impounding cars.”
About 20 concerned residents met with Keilor Labor MP Natalie Hutchins, Derrimut Labor MP Telmo Languiller and Keilor Downs’ Senior Sergeant Wayne Moed on Saturday.
Ms Hutchins will submit the petition to State Parliament in the next month. She urged residents to write to Police Minister Peter Ryan.
“Police in this area work hard,” she said. “But they need to have adequate funds and numbers behind them.
“Police numbers continue to become more of an issue in the west as the population rapidly grows.”
