Latest news with #ChapelStreet
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Wild moment gang of car hoons shuts down one of Australia's busiest nightclub precincts - as crowds out for dinner are choked in tyre smoke
The 'reckless and irresponsible' drivers who swarmed a popular nightclub strip, causing chaos and forcing traffic diversions overnight, are being sought by police. Large crowds gathered on Chapel Street in Melbourne 's inner east from 7pm on Saturday, prompting a significant police presence. The event is believed to have been organised through a public Facebook group, where more than 5000 people had expressed interest in attending. A hospitality worker on shift when the crowd descended said that hundreds of people had packed into the streets. Inspector Georgie Swinton confirmed an operation to address the event was put into action, with multiple traffic diversions implemented to ensure pedestrian safety. Chapel Street is a renowned dining and entertainment precinct, attracting thousands of visitors each week. However, the strip has also been the scene of repeated criminal activity, including firebombings, brawls, stabbings, and more recently, hooning. Footage circulating on social media, and referenced by police, shows drivers performing burnouts. Another video shows people jumping onto a moving tow truck. Insp Swinton described the behaviour as 'reckless and irresponsible'. 'A number of drivers engaged in dangerous driving and we will find those drivers,' she told reporters on Sunday. 'There's footage of one particular driver doing fairly reasonable burnouts. We will identity him, he will be charged and his car will be impounded.' No arrests were made, although defect notices were handed out to several drivers for modified vehicles. Police confirmed there was an influx of calls for assistance, mostly for the loud noise of cars participating in the planned meet. Housing and Building Minister Harriet Shing said the behaviour of the hoon drivers as 'absolutely disgraceful'. 'Safety for people in and around our roads is of paramount importance and anybody who thinks that they can go out and live in such a cavalier fashion should be absolutely condemned,' she told reporters on Sunday. Police have been cracking down on crime at the popular shopping strip, with almost 130 people arrested this year. The City of Stonnington has recently endorsed a new plan for Chapel Street, aimed at enhancing public safety, improving cleanliness, and boosting business and community confidence through a targeted program of actions.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
Police hunt for 'reckless' hoons after chaotic car meet
Police have vowed to track down the "reckless and irresponsible" drivers who swarmed a popular nightclub strip, creating chaos and forcing officers to divert traffic overnight. Large crowds began gathering on Chapel Street in Melbourne's inner east from 7pm on Saturday, prompting a significant police presence. The event is believed to have been organised through a public Facebook group, where more than 5000 people had expressed interest in attending. A hospitality worker on shift at the time told AAP that hundreds of people had packed into the streets. Inspector Georgie Swinton confirmed an operation to address the event was put into action, with multiple traffic diversions implemented to ensure pedestrian safety. Chapel Street is a renowned dining and entertainment precinct, attracting thousands of visitors each week. However, the strip has also been the scene of repeated criminal activity, including firebombings, brawls, stabbings, and more recently, hooning. Footage circulating on social media, and referenced by police, shows drivers performing burnouts. Another video shows people jumping onto a moving tow truck. Insp Swinton described the behaviour as "reckless and irresponsible". "A number of drivers engaged in dangerous driving and we will find those drivers," she told reporters on Sunday. "There's footage of one particular driver doing fairly reasonable burnouts. We will identity him, he will be charged and his car will be impounded." No arrests were made, although defect notices were handed out to several drivers for modified vehicles. Police confirmed there was an influx of calls for assistance, mostly for the loud noise of cars participating in the planned meet. Housing and Building Minister Harriet Shing said the behaviour of the hoon drivers as "absolutely disgraceful". "Safety for people in and around our roads is of paramount importance and anybody who thinks that they can go out and live in such a cavalier fashion should be absolutely condemned," she told reporters on Sunday. Police have been cracking down on crime at the popular shopping strip, with almost 130 people arrested this year. The City of Stonnington has recently endorsed a new plan for Chapel Street, aimed at enhancing public safety, improving cleanliness, and boosting business and community confidence through a targeted program of actions.
The Australian
20-07-2025
- The Australian
Chapel St, Melbourne: Police called as car meet on iconic Melbourne strip turns wild
A car meet spiralled into chaos overnight after hundreds of hoons took over Melbourne's iconic Chapel Street. A strong police presence flooded the area on Saturday as of a targeted crackdown on reckless driving, Victoria Police said in a statement. Dubbed Operation Traction, the high-visibility deployment was launched in response to intelligence suggesting a large group of individuals were planning to engage in high-risk driving behaviour. A car meet spiralled into chaos overnight with police closing down Chapel St. Picture: Nine News Police said a number of infringement notices were handed out. Picture: Nine News Officers issued several infringement notices to drivers caught participating in dangerous and disruptive activities behind the wheel. A number of defect notices were also handed out for modified vehicles deemed unsafe or illegal. To help manage traffic and prevent further hooning, police temporarily closed sections of Chapel Street during the operation. The move was aimed at both curbing anti-social behaviour and easing congestion in the busy night-life district. Hoons performed burnouts along the iconic strip. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Police are urging anyone who witnessed dangerous driving, or who may have dashcam footage or other information, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Amelia Swan Journalist Amelia Swan joined News Corp as a cadet reporter in 2024. Amelia Swan
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Chaos as hoons take over iconic Melb strip
A car meet spiralled into chaos overnight after hundreds of hoons took over Melbourne's iconic Chapel Street. A strong police presence flooded the area on Saturday as of a targeted crackdown on reckless driving, Victoria Police said in a statement. Dubbed Operation Traction, the high-visibility deployment was launched in response to intelligence suggesting a large group of individuals were planning to engage in high-risk driving behaviour. Officers issued several infringement notices to drivers caught participating in dangerous and disruptive activities behind the wheel. A number of defect notices were also handed out for modified vehicles deemed unsafe or illegal. To help manage traffic and prevent further hooning, police temporarily closed sections of Chapel Street during the operation. The move was aimed at both curbing anti-social behaviour and easing congestion in the busy night-life district. Police are urging anyone who witnessed dangerous driving, or who may have dashcam footage or other information, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- News.com.au
Chaotic scenes as car meet on Melbourne's Chapel St turns wild, police swarm area
A car meet spiralled into chaos overnight after hundreds of hoons took over Melbourne's iconic Chapel Street. A strong police presence flooded the area on Saturday as of a targeted crackdown on reckless driving, Victoria Police said in a statement. Dubbed Operation Traction, the high-visibility deployment was launched in response to intelligence suggesting a large group of individuals were planning to engage in high-risk driving behaviour. Officers issued several infringement notices to drivers caught participating in dangerous and disruptive activities behind the wheel. A number of defect notices were also handed out for modified vehicles deemed unsafe or illegal. To help manage traffic and prevent further hooning, police temporarily closed sections of Chapel Street during the operation. The move was aimed at both curbing anti-social behaviour and easing congestion in the busy night-life district. Police are urging anyone who witnessed dangerous driving, or who may have dashcam footage or other information, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
