Police in Melbourne’s northwest suburbs have issued more than 100 defect notices, impounded almost 30 vehicles, and arrested 17 people as part of a blitz against intentional high risk driving on our roads.
As part of Operation Achilles, officers from the North West Metro Region undertook a week of targeted activity across Wyndham, Brimbank, Melton, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Hume, Moreland, and Moonee Valley.
Between Sunday 21 August and Saturday 27 August, Highway Patrol units and members of the North West Metro Achilles Taskforce saturated known hoon hot spots, utilised Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology, and undertook bail compliance checks on dangerous drivers to keep the roads as safe as possible.
These areas were targeted following community feedback received as part of Victoria Police’s Neighbourhood Policing approach, with concerns raised about hooning in these suburbs.
During the course of the week, police:
• Issued 104 defect notices. Those issued with a defect notice will have 28 days to ensure the car is roadworthy or their registration will be cancelled.
• Impounded 28 vehicles.
• Arrested 17 people, including multiple offenders connected to driving offences, as well as other offenders identified due to the strong police presence in these areas.
• Identified 8 drink drivers and 7 drug drivers.
• Issued 175 infringements.
The intensive police focus also resulted in no hoon meets being reported in the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne during the duration of the operation.
Over the course of the week, police foiled a number of dangerous drivers including:
• A red Nissan Navara allegedly linked to previous hoon meets was spotted in Melton on Sunday 21 August, just prior to midnight. It’s alleged 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. Operation Achilles officers and uniform police from Melton arrived and arrested the pair. The driver, a 17-year-old from Melton will be charged on summons with serious driving offences. It is expected he will appear at court at a later date. The Nissan Navara was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1006.10.
• On Tuesday night (23 August), officers impounded a trio of cars in the Campbellfield and Coolaroo areas following separate incidents of suspended or disqualified driving. Police impounded a Mercedes wagon, a Volkswagen Golf, and a Suzuki Swift for 30 days at a cost of approximately $900 each. A 27-year-old male, a 22-year-old female and a 45-year-old female all from Roxburgh Park are expected to be charged on summons with suspended or disqualified driving. The trio will appear at the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
• On Monday night (22 August) at approximately 10pm, officers working as part of Operation Achilles responded to a collision in Sunbury which involved a silver Holden Commodore that drove away from the area. At about 10.30pm, the silver Commodore allegedly drove in an off-road area along tram tracks in Matthews Avenue in Keilor before it became stuck, causing significant damage to the car. Officers responded to the incident and conducted a roadside drug test. The man allegedly returned a positive result to the drug test. Police searched the vehicle and located a quantity of illicit drugs and a prescribed weapon. A 25-year-old male was charged with possessing a drug of dependence, drug driving, careless driving, drive in a dangerous manner, fail to stop at an accident, possess a prohibited weapon and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Since July last year, Operation Achilles has resulted in more than 240 offenders being charged for hoon driving, over 1,400 charges being laid, and more than 155 vehicles being impounded across metropolitan Melbourne.
As part of Operation Achilles, police saturate known hoon hotspots, ensuring they can rapidly respond to high risk driving events.
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.auExternal Link.
Quotes attributed to Acting Inspector Darren Kenos – North West Metro Achilles Taskforce
“The intensive approach we’re taking to disrupt the state’s worst hoons is working. Prior to Operation Achilles, we were seeing up to 40 high risk driving events across Melbourne’s northwestern suburbs each month – now you can count the number of such events each month on one hand.
“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.
