Hooligans hit

By Melissa Meehan
POLICE have today (Tuesday) launched an operation to clean up the mean streets of Healesville.
The clampdown follows the latest incident of antisocial behaviour in the town.
In the latest incident a group of men entered the Grind and Groove at around 9pm on Wednesday 9 July.
Owner of the Grind and Groove, Maurice Lacy said a group of men migrated to the back section of his establishment where they were largely out of view of staff at the bar.
“I became concerned when several patrons decided to leave the Grind and Groove after commenting on unruly, disrespectful and childish behaviour,” Mr Lacy said.
“Upon investigation I discovered that this behaviour included spitting beer across the room, urinating on the walls, hand towels and floor of the toilets.”
Mr Lacy said he immediately closed the bar and asked everyone to leave.
“As everyone was leaving, three men stood facing the main street and urinated into the garden beds directly outside my front door,” Mr Lacy said.
He said that he had always prided himself on offering a welcoming and safe environment where people could relax.
“The behaviour of these men seriously undermined this intention,” Mr Lacy said.
“To the people responsible for this appalling behaviour I have this to say: The majority of local people want to see a progressive local economy which attracts people to the Yarra Valley. Your behaviour seriously undermines this and is an insult to the rest of us.”
This incident does not seem to be isolated in the seemingly peaceful town of Healesville.
In the past month the Mail has received numerous letters calling for the unacceptable behaviour to come to an end.
In June, the Mail reported on an alcohol fuelled brawl outside another Healesville establishment, that could only be controlled when police were forced to use OC (capsicum) spray on the 50 brawlers.
One witness described the scene as a “war zone” with police outnumbered by about 12 to one.
Another witness, who does not want to be named in fear of retribution, described the streets of Healesville as similar to the violent inner city streets of Melbourne.
“The main street is a hostile zone,” she said.
The woman said she no longer felt safe in the town after dark, and had thought about packing up her family and moving elsewhere.
Another letter received this week describes a number of residential units that have been destroyed by a group of “drunken youths” for the past three months.
“This is becoming an expensive and time consuming event with pickets being kicked and ripped off, at times some have gone missing, others have been found in the drain.”
“A resident was threatened when she called out to the young people to stop this senselessness.”
In a letter to the editor, Simon Templer described antisocial behaviour as being a regular occurrence in Healesville at night.
“The Healesville Walk isn’t a safe place at night, sure there is security staff working inside Coles but try getting to or from your car without being harassed, threatened or abused by drunken thugs,” Mr Templer said.
Healesville Sergeant Tony Van Gorp said that a police operation targeting antisocial behaviour in the town would start today (Tuesday).
“We are targeting antisocial behaviour in the town, it is a problem that needs to and is being addressed,” Sgt Van Gorp said.
“If people feel unsafe, or threatened they should call 000, and if anyone has any information regarding unacceptable behaviour we would like to hear from them.”