If this doesn't beat all...
There's a growing problem in Australia with thugs crashing parties & beating people up (or worse). There was one instance in which the father of a young lady was attacked and beaten during her 16th birthday party at her home. The article covering that story quoted a police official as saying that they (the police) had long advised party-givers to hire security in order to prevent such occurrences.
Now, there's a move afoot to regulate parties to prevent the violence. No mention about controlling the criminals, just to bring parties under state control. WTH is wrong with this picture?
I have yet to hear of such problems here in East Texas.
Here's the link & latest article: (Redcliffe is a suburb of Brisbane)
http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18284869%5E952,00.html
Gate-crashing thugs fuel calls for controls
Renee Viellaris, chief police reporter
27 February 2006
TEENAGE parties could be strictly regulated in the wake of a brutal revenge attack against a man trying to stop gatecrashers at the weekend.
Scott Singleton, 37, was stabbed seven times in the stomach and upper body after a gang returned to a Redcliffe party after they had been evicted
Mr Singleton's wife Kerri said the bloody brawl at the family party was every parent's nightmare. Her husband had been stabbed in front of their daughter and a grandparent bashed.
The State Government's Safety Youth Parties Taskforce, due to report in March, is expected to recommend tougher police controls and regulation for teenage parties.
A government survey, which asked if youth parties should be regulated, found 43 per cent of people would support the move and 49 per cent believed current laws and police powers were inadequate when parties got out of control.
Premier Peter Beattie said last night he was disgusted by the behaviour of the thugs.
"If the laws aren't tough enough then they certainly will be by the time I'm finished," he said. "I want them (the perpetrators) to feel the full force of the law."
Surgeons operated on Mr Singleton for more than three hours on Saturday night. It is believed he was stabbed by at least two men.
Mrs Singleton said her family was good friends with the teenager celebrating his 18th birthday. "It was a family event with about 30 to 40 people. Grandparents were there," she said.
Earlier during the party – at the teenager's parents' house at Woody Point – her husband had told about six men to leave. They had returned with 10 to 15 others at 11.30pm determined to do as much damage as possible.
"They went straight into the house, smashing cars and windows. It was just incredible," Mrs Singleton said. "You could tell they had no fear. My daughter stood there and watched her father being stabbed. I was on the telephone trying to get the police and my husband was lying on the ground."
The men left when they saw he was bleeding.
Mrs Singleton said some of the guests knew one of the men involved.
She did not know how the offenders knew about the party.
Police said the men bashed a grandfather on the head and one man was seen smashing the windows of a parked car. Another ripped out a letterbox and threw it at a car.
Police Minister Judy Spence said the Safety Youth Parties Taskforce was investigating ways of stopping parties getting out of control. The taskforce had obtained information from the community and stakeholders and taken information from police records.
It would recommend how young people and community safety could be protected, including educational approaches, early intervention strategies, legislative aspects and police responses.
Ms Spence said she would not pre-empt the taskforce report but would consider the recommendations.
"When incidents like this occur and people get hurt, there are long-lasting consequences," Ms Spence said.
"Most parties held by young people are safe and responsible, however some do get out of hand quickly and can result in serious consequences for everyone.
"They often require police attendance and cause distress and fear for responsible partygoers, parents, neighbours and other members of the public."
The Government website shows almost three-quarters of respondents to its surveys had been affected or knew of a youth party that had become dangerous. More than half blamed SMS, e-mail and the Internet for leading gatecrashers to venues.
There's a growing problem in Australia with thugs crashing parties & beating people up (or worse). There was one instance in which the father of a young lady was attacked and beaten during her 16th birthday party at her home. The article covering that story quoted a police official as saying that they (the police) had long advised party-givers to hire security in order to prevent such occurrences.
Now, there's a move afoot to regulate parties to prevent the violence. No mention about controlling the criminals, just to bring parties under state control. WTH is wrong with this picture?
I have yet to hear of such problems here in East Texas.
Here's the link & latest article: (Redcliffe is a suburb of Brisbane)
http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18284869%5E952,00.html
Gate-crashing thugs fuel calls for controls
Renee Viellaris, chief police reporter
27 February 2006
TEENAGE parties could be strictly regulated in the wake of a brutal revenge attack against a man trying to stop gatecrashers at the weekend.
Scott Singleton, 37, was stabbed seven times in the stomach and upper body after a gang returned to a Redcliffe party after they had been evicted
Mr Singleton's wife Kerri said the bloody brawl at the family party was every parent's nightmare. Her husband had been stabbed in front of their daughter and a grandparent bashed.
The State Government's Safety Youth Parties Taskforce, due to report in March, is expected to recommend tougher police controls and regulation for teenage parties.
A government survey, which asked if youth parties should be regulated, found 43 per cent of people would support the move and 49 per cent believed current laws and police powers were inadequate when parties got out of control.
Premier Peter Beattie said last night he was disgusted by the behaviour of the thugs.
"If the laws aren't tough enough then they certainly will be by the time I'm finished," he said. "I want them (the perpetrators) to feel the full force of the law."
Surgeons operated on Mr Singleton for more than three hours on Saturday night. It is believed he was stabbed by at least two men.
Mrs Singleton said her family was good friends with the teenager celebrating his 18th birthday. "It was a family event with about 30 to 40 people. Grandparents were there," she said.
Earlier during the party – at the teenager's parents' house at Woody Point – her husband had told about six men to leave. They had returned with 10 to 15 others at 11.30pm determined to do as much damage as possible.
"They went straight into the house, smashing cars and windows. It was just incredible," Mrs Singleton said. "You could tell they had no fear. My daughter stood there and watched her father being stabbed. I was on the telephone trying to get the police and my husband was lying on the ground."
The men left when they saw he was bleeding.
Mrs Singleton said some of the guests knew one of the men involved.
She did not know how the offenders knew about the party.
Police said the men bashed a grandfather on the head and one man was seen smashing the windows of a parked car. Another ripped out a letterbox and threw it at a car.
Police Minister Judy Spence said the Safety Youth Parties Taskforce was investigating ways of stopping parties getting out of control. The taskforce had obtained information from the community and stakeholders and taken information from police records.
It would recommend how young people and community safety could be protected, including educational approaches, early intervention strategies, legislative aspects and police responses.
Ms Spence said she would not pre-empt the taskforce report but would consider the recommendations.
"When incidents like this occur and people get hurt, there are long-lasting consequences," Ms Spence said.
"Most parties held by young people are safe and responsible, however some do get out of hand quickly and can result in serious consequences for everyone.
"They often require police attendance and cause distress and fear for responsible partygoers, parents, neighbours and other members of the public."
The Government website shows almost three-quarters of respondents to its surveys had been affected or knew of a youth party that had become dangerous. More than half blamed SMS, e-mail and the Internet for leading gatecrashers to venues.
