By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
POLICE will step up anti-hoon patrols in Dandenong North after a public meeting on the issue this month.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen of Greater Dandenong police said the 30-odd resident who attended the meeting had common concerns about hoons in many of the suburb’s streets including Heyington Crescent, Oakwood Avenue, Menzies Avenue and Elonera Road.
He said police relied on swift community “intelligence” to triple zero which provided offending-vehicle descriptions and registration numbers.
“We can’t get to all those spots. Because of the workload, we can’t sit in those spots without end.”
Police scan social media to blitz planned hoon meets but the reckless high-revving and screeching rubber hoons which are blighting Dandenong North seems less orgainsed.
“It’s a different cohort. The stuff we’re talking about is more localised,” Inspector Kitchen said.
“It would involve perhaps one or two cars in these locations.”
He said offenders needed to realise that dropping burnouts and doughnuts was “high-risk driving” that inherently leads to less control of their vehicles.
Other resident complaints included drug-dealing and discarded needles in a playground, as well as illegal parking too close to driveways and corners.
Councillor John Kelly, who instigated the meeting, said a “lot of lessons” had been learnt about the hooning “which is becoming a cross on our community”.
A follow-up public meeting is expected to be held in six months.
