Vic: Five teenagers hand themselves in over alleged rapes

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2009
Vic: Five teenagers hand themselves in over alleged rapes

By Edwina Scott

MELBOURNE, Dec 3 AAP - Five teenagers have surrendered themselves to police and been
questioned over the gang-rape of two 15-year-old girls in a Melbourne park.

The girls were targeted by a group of up to 10 males unknown to them at the Broadmeadows
railway station in Melbourne's north before being separated and assaulted at a park in
nearby Roxburgh Park on the evening of October 24.

Two 16-year-old boys and one 15-year-old went to local police stations on Thursday
morning before being taken to St Kilda Road headquarters, where they spent the day being
interviewed with detectives from the sexual crime squad.

Two more youths, aged 16 and 17, turned themselves in on Thursday afternoon and were
also being questioned at St Kilda Rd.

Detective Inspector Glenn Davies said the result came after a public appeal to find
the alleged rapists.

But he stressed police were still looking for several others believed to have taken
part in the assaults and were keen to speak with any witnesses.

Police have obtained CCTV footage of some youths believed to be associated with the attacks.

The assaults - which appear to have been planned - and the ages of those involved were
"very concerning", Det Insp Davies said.

"We'd like to get the message out to young people that they need to be very careful
with issues of consent," he said.

"There has been an increase in sexual assaults involving young people, both young people
as victims and young people as offenders."

Police say more education about sexual consent is needed following a rise in assaults
among young people.

In another recent incident, members of a Melbourne northern suburban football club
were arrested over the pack rape, assault and imprisonment of two young women during an
end of season trip at Phillip Island on October 10.

Three teenagers from the Montmorency Football Club - two aged 18 and a 17-year-old
- have so far been charged over that attack.

While parents and teachers need to educate youths about the seriousness of sexual offences,
it is ultimately offenders who must change their behaviour, Det Insp Davies said.

"People should have the right in the community to walk around without being attacked," he said.

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