Police urge residents to register parties

By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE police are urging locals to register their parties after serious concern over recent violent house parties.
Last weekend partygoers at a Cranbourne party threw bottles at police as they tried to disperse crowds.
Detective Senior Constable Michael Van Hamond at Cranbourne CIU said there had been a recent increase in parties that had potential for serious trouble.
He said at some parties an admission fee was being charged to cover rent, personal expenses or just for profit.
Other concerns include unlicensed security crowd controllers, a lack of parental supervision and minors possessing and consuming alcohol.
Det Sen Const Van Hamond said several parties had been advertised on the Internet on various websites offering an open house invite.
“When parties have been held, police have been called to quell the partygoers and disperse the crowds,” he said.
“This has led to cars terrorising in the street, damage to properties and anti-social behaviour upsetting local residents.
“There has also been the recent stabbings that have occurred at parties.”
Det Sen Const Van Hamond said police were appalled at the party organisers for their lack of consideration for their neighbours as well as the safety of their guests.
He said in one case, a hall was hired under the pretext of a 21st party, but when police arrived after seeing it advertised on MySpace, they found 100 youths, no mature adults and unlicensed crowd controllers.
Police are now appealing for parents to be more vigilant about what their children are doing and where they are going.
Call the Cranbourne Police Station on 5991 0600 to register a party or to report an incident.