More than 200 hoons charged in nine months as part of Operation Achilles

More than 200 of Melbourne’s worst hoon drivers have been charged over the past nine months, as police dismantle and disrupt multiple networks responsible for organising and participating in significant illegal driving meets.

As part of the ongoing state-wide Operation Achilles, Victoria Police has an intensive focus on disrupting hoon driving events when they occur and taking those involved off our roads as quickly as possible.

Since the beginning of July across metropolitan Melbourne, Operation Achilles has resulted in:

• 212 offenders charged

• Four offenders were remanded due to their offending.

• 1,123 charges laid against those involved in hoon driving.

• 143 vehicles impounded

• 45 search warrants executed

• 674 Penalty Infringement notices issued

• 144 unroadworthy notices issued

Victoria Police’s relentless focus on our worst hoons has also led to a significant reduction in the number of large-scale, organised high risk driving events occurring across Melbourne.

While police are not seeing hooning events which attract significant numbers of participants and spectators, they are encouraging the community to report even small gatherings when they occur so they can be investigated.

As part of Operation Achilles, police saturate known hoon hotspots, ensuring they are able to rapidly respond to high risk driving events.

If possible, police will make arrests and seize vehicles at the event, however the immediate response is only the beginning of their work to keep dangerous drivers off our roads.

When arrests are not made on the spot, full scale investigations are launched into those involved, including organisers, participants, and spectators.

Police have an array of investigative techniques available that assists in quickly identifying those who have been involved with each high risk driving event.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett

“As a result of our intensive focus, we have seen a significant reduction in hoon activity across the state.

“This type of behaviour is not harmful fun, it is serious and dangerous, and police will relentlessly investigate those involved in organised hoon meets. If you manage to escape police detection on the night, it will only be a matter of time before you receive a knock on the door.

“Despite the significant drop off in hoon driving, we will continue to make it as difficult as possible for those who want to drive recklessly on our roads.

“Police will continue to saturate known hoon hotspots, as well as actively monitoring event organisers and participants, to ensure we keep the community safe on our roads”

/Public Release. View in full here.