Parents ‘can stop knifings’

By Callan Date
FIVE stabbings at three local gatecrashed parties in the past month has a senior police officer calling for tighter parental control.
The latest knife attack occurred about 10pm last Friday after a surprise party in Narre Warren turned nasty.
Four teenagers were injured after a large group of men, four of whom were denied entry to the party about 10 minutes earlier, tried to get access to the house hosting the event.
After they were denied entry for a second time, police said one man produced a knife.
An 18-year-old Narre Warren man was stabbed once in the back. He was taken to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition.
A 16-year-old Noble Park boy was also stabbed once in the back and was taken to The Alfred in a stable condition.
A 19-year-old Wheelers Hill man received minor cuts and abrasions to his hands. He was taken to Dandenong Hospital for treatment.
A 19-year-old Hallam man received minor abrasions to his back but did not require medical treatment.
All three victims who were admitted to hospital have since been released.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Wilcox of Narre Warren Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) said, as a parent and as a police officer, the recent increase in knife attacks was of major concern to him.
“The severity of some of the assaults is concerning,” he said.
Det Sen Sgt Wilcox was referring to a gatecrashed party in Clyde North last month that resulted in the 20-year-old host ending up in hospital fighting for his life.
His 19-year-old friend also suffered multiple stab wounds during the attack.
The violence occurred less than 24 hours before a separate stabbing at a Berwick party.
In that attack a 17-year-old Narre Warren boy was stabbed in the left buttock after an argument occurred at the 18th birthday party held at the Berwick Fields Primary School hall.
Det Sen Sgt Wilcox said providing adequate adult supervision and registering any party with Victoria Police’s PartySafe program would go a long way to stopping events being gatecrashed.
“Having a lot of adults at a party is a really good deterrent. You also need to know how many people will be attending.”
He also suggested employing private security guards as an option to preventing violence.
Investigations following the latest knife attack have resulted in two Casey teenagers being arrested and charged.
An 18-year-old Hallam man is charged with affray and serious assault and has been bailed to appear before the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 4 February.
A 17-year-old Hampton Park boy has also been charged with affray and has been bailed to appear before the Dandenong Children’s Court on 30 November.
Police said several other people have also been interviewed in relation to the Narre Warren attack with investigations set to continue.