Call for safety at Dee Why

Local politicians have called for an urgent review into safety at Dee Why following a violent assault.

In the wake of the violent assault at James Meehan Reserve that left a 47-year-old man hospitalised late on Friday night (29 May), calls have been made for action to be taken to improve night-time public safety at Dee Why.

Narrabeen Ward Councillor Vincent De Luca OAM

Police were still waiting to interview the victim of the weekend’s assault, who remains in hospital, but Northern Beaches Council Independent Narrabeen Ward Councillor Vincent De Luca OAM (image above) called for urgent action.

“NSW Police need to get onto this quickly, our community expects justice. Locals are petrified to even take their dogs for a walk. We have an epidemic of gang crime that must be addressed.

“The resident of a nearby unit was the victim of a violent attack, which allegedly occurred after he went out to ask a group who were making a lot of noise in the park at 11.00pm at night to be quiet,” said Cr De Luca.

Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command collect crime scene evidence

“I have heard from a number of residents concerned about groups of teens gathered in darkened areas, such as this park. They report being menaced and threatened merely for passing through a public walkway after dark.

“I have issued an urgent call for Northern Beaches Council to review lighting and closed-circuit television surveillance in these areas, particularly where this violent attack occurred but also at Walter Gors Park,” said Cr De Luca.

Manly MP James Griffin (image above), whose electorate encompasses the eastern side of Pittwater Road at Dee Why, said he would work with Council to improve safety at Dee Why.

“Those involved in Friday night’s attack should hand themselves in to police, otherwise they will be tracked down and caught.

“This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated on the Northern Beaches. My thoughts are with the gentleman and I wish him a speedy recovery.

“I will work with Council to explore any and all opportunities to improve lighting in this area,” said Mr Griffin.

Antisocial behaviour involving teens has become a significant issue on the Northern Beaches, ranging from relatively mild ‘partying’ in bushland areas to creating effective no-go zones.

NSW Ambulance respond to a man assaulted at Clyde Road, Dee Why

Comments on social media regarding Friday night’s attack at Dee Why support Cr De Luca’s assertion that some teens are ‘out of control’.

“It is common knowledge that it is a regular occurrence of these groups in the area to intimidate and assault people, usually individuals. The police don’t do anything as it’s a waste of their time as the offenders are minors and don’t receive appropriate punishment.

“Kids are scared to walk around Dee Why main [B-Line bus stop at Pittwater Road] and surrounding areas. Security patrol certain areas but are scared themselves to interact with the weak young thugs who act out their violence in groups often carrying weapons and under the influence,” said one local.

NSW Police respond to an incident at Walter Gors Park, Dee Why

The B-Line remains a transit route for antisocial behaviour, with reports emerging yesterday evening (Saturday, 30 May) of police called to United Cinemas at Vuko Place, Warriewood, for reports of a group of teens threatening other patrons.

A 14-year-old girl who went to the movies with a female friend yesterday evening was forced to leave the cinema after they were abused and called ‘sluts’.

According to the parents of the girl who spoke with the Northern Beaches Advocate, she was left badly shaken following the incident. When they contacted the cinema, they were told the cinema has been struggling with teen behaviour, including some who are sneaking in to cause trouble.

The incident was corroborated by another cinema patron on social media, who had advice for the parents of a group of up to 30 younger teens.

“To the parents of the 30 or so tween/teens who attended tonight, do you have any idea what your kids are up to? The kind of ass$&les you’re raising?

“Spitting on young girls, yelling profanities, throwing rubbish, abusing staff, it’s disgraceful. It can’t be all peer pressure. It’s surely a generation of parents who can’t be arsed taking a hard line. Do better,” said the patron.

United Cinemas Warriewood owner Roy Mustaca OAM (image above) said there had been some ‘excitement’ from kids watching the movie ‘Backrooms’ but that it did not require them to call police to manage.

“We’ve got a lot of staff, and we look after the children. We are proud the way we look after children. We give them tokens to play at the games, we love children and we built it [the cinema] for them.

“We look after children, and we don’t really have a problem. I must admit, however, the movie Backrooms is a movie which is very unusual and kids are reacting to it, but children will be children.

“The father [of the 14-year-old girl] called us, we apologised and gave them two tickets to come back. It’s all good, it’s been fixed,” said Mr Mustaca.

Mr Mustaca said that while some of the children had been ‘excitable’, it had not reached the point police needed to be involved.

“We certainly will call the police when it’s necessary, but we haven’t been made to call the police. Especially at that age, they’re children,” said Mr Mustaca.

B-Line bus with NSW Ambulance responding at night at Pittwater Road, Warriewood.

Not long after the reports of the ‘excitable’ behaviour at United Cinemas Warriewood, police were observed disbanding older teens from a ‘bush rave’ at Deep Creek, just after 7.15pm.

Six units attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command, including an Inspector and the Dog Unit, responded to the Wakehurst Parkway, North Narrabeen, to disperse a group of around 100 youths who had gathered in bushland.

A common theme among commenters is the lack of parental oversight and limits on police powers with respect to minors. Local police say their ability to enforce sanctions against juveniles is limited by the Young Offenders Act, which directs non-judicial outcomes for young people.