Police issued more than 100 defect notices, impounded nearly 30 vehicles and arrested 17 people in Melbourne’s north-western suburbs between Sunday, August 21 and Saturday, August 27 as part of a crackdown on hoon drivers.
The targeted activity took place across Melton, Hume, Wyndham, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Moreland and Moonee Valley, as part of Operation Achilles.
During the course of the week, police said they issued 104 defect notices, impounded 28 vehicles, arrested 17 people including multiple offenders connected to driving offences, identified eight drink drivers and seven drug drivers, and issued 175 infringements.
Police said the areas were targeted following community feedback received as part of Victoria Police’s Neighbourhood Policing approach, as people raised concerns about hooning. According to police, their increased presence resulted in “no hoon meets being reported in the northern and western suburbs” during the period of the operation.
North West Metro Achilles Taskforce Acting Inspector Darren Kenos said the “intensive” approach police were taking to disrupt the hooning was working.
“Prior to Operation Achilles, we were seeing up to 40 high risk driving events across Melbourne’s north-western suburbs each month – now you can count the number of such events each month on one hand,” Acting Inspector Kenos said.
“We have a number of police involved in Operation Achilles who bring significant expertise to the role, including mechanical and engineering backgrounds.
“These officers prove invaluable in forensically checking vehicles, identifying defects, and taking death traps off our roads.
“Police are saturating roads surrounding known hoon hot spots, as well as utilising Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology capable of detecting unlicensed drivers, unregistered vehicles, and those with a history of dangerous driving.”
Police said they foiled a number of dangerous drivers during the operation, including a 17-year-old from Melton who allegedly fled a red Nissan Navara, allegedly linked to previous hoon meets, after being spotted by police on Sunday, August 21.
Police allege that once the driver saw police, he began driving erratically without headlights on before driving into a reserve.
“The AirWing observed the vehicle driving in off-road areas in Melton South before the driver and a passenger abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot,” police said.
“Operation Achilles officers and uniform police from Melton arrived and arrested the pair.”
Police said he will be charged on summons with serious driving offences and is expected to appear at court at a later date. The car was impounded for 30 days at a cost of more than $1000.
According to police, since July last year Operation Achilles has resulted in more than 240 offenders being charged for hoon driving, more than 1400 charges being laid, and more than 155 vehicles being impounded across metropolitan Melbourne.
Anyone with information about hoon activity, such as rubber found on the road or information about anyone involved in this activity is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
