Apex riot probe ends

POLICE have finished investigations into an Apex Gang-linked riot in the Melbourne CBD.
Taskforce Ares officers have charged 30 people in relation to the Saturday 12 March incident and intend to summons another seven people to appear in court.
A further four people have been charged, with warrants for their arrests issued.
The charges have included affray, riotous behaviour, offensive behaviour, assault, robbery and theft.
Police said that 33 of those charged or due to be summonsed were aged under 18.
Ten of them have suspected links to the Dandenong North-born Apex gang, involved in car thefts across the south-east and beyond in recent months.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said that Victorians should take confidence in Taskforce Ares’ steadfast response.
“Investigators have done an outstanding job to meticulously work through hundreds of hours of CCTV and still imagery, identify those involved and bring them to justice,” he said.
“Melbourne is a safe and welcoming city and Victoria Police will not tolerate violent behaviour which threatens to disturb that.
“Taskforce Ares’ swift and methodical response demonstrates how seriously we treat this sort of offending.”