Police, community members condemn gang culture in wake of stabbing - The Age

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“We don’t condone this sort of violence but it's a touchy subject because you know our music is not exactly gospel music and we don't want to sound like hypocrites," they wrote in an Instagram post.

"But you kids are too young and life is too short. Our music for us is an Escape/Voice/Vehicle for a better pathway. And for some, it is a 2nd chance at life. It is not an invitation for the next gen to go to war with each other."

Robo Tauafao, who has 25,000 followers on Instagram and has also been using his YouTube platform to speak to young men in the Islander community, urged against retaliation attacks after he visited the crime scene.

"Retaliation is the first thing that I thought of when I was there. Just feeling the hurt that was with the bloke's friends ... I really felt it," he said in a video now viewed 25,000 times.

"Those guys that want to go and do retaliation, you're just going to take away another person's son," he said.

Mr Tauafo said he had been inundated with messages from young men looking for guidance since he had started speaking about Solomone's death.

The father of three offered to to speak directly to any boys that "don't have a father figure".

"If you need someone to talk to you, need someone to have advice. Brother, I'm here," he said.

The posts come as police described a "wicked and complex" youth gang issue in Melbourne's western suburbs.

Officers are investigating whether there is a link between the attack and the western suburbs Brotherhood gang.

Front-line police say they are unable to keep violent young criminals behind bars as gang numbers swell to more than 500 across Melbourne's north-west alone, The Age reported on Sunday.

A police officer at the gates of Victoria University Secondary College in St Albans, where Solomone Taufeulungaki was a student, on Wednesday morning.Credit:Eddie Jim

Street gangs such as BDK and their offshoots are among those causing trouble. They include 97, the Tarneit-based SSO (Squad Shit Only) and BBG (Black Belly Gang), and the Werribee-based Brotherhood.

North West Metro Commander Tim Hansen said on Thursday that police had no intelligence to suggest fights were planned in the coming days. But he said police were acutely aware of the "ongoing gang issue" and had turned their minds to the likelihood of retribution or reprisal attacks following Solomone's death.

Police have increased patrols and if necessary will enact Operation Omni, normally reserved for large events such as Melbourne's White Night festival, which gives officers special stop-and-search powers within a designated area. This was enacted on Wednesday night but no violence eventuated.

"We acknowledge we have street gangs operating across the west and south-east but have really strong policing responses and plans in process," Mr Hansen said.

Police on horseback pass the crime scene on Wednesday afternoon.Credit:Eddie Jim

"If these kids or these street gangs want to come back into other western suburbs of Melbourne and get involved in a fight, we will be there ready, waiting for them."

Through their intelligence sources, police were able to prevent planned fights several times a week, he said.

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Mr Hansen said he was particularly concerned about knife crime, which had soared by about 40 per cent in the past five years.

"It's a real concern of mine as I look out across Melbourne … I see the risk this is presenting," he said.

"It's time for us to collectively say enough is enough. These attacks are killing our young people, killing our teenagers."

Mr Hansen said "American gang culture" also seemed to resonate with these groups.

"It's quite interesting because they purport to be brave, have a whole lot of outrage and look after each other but when you actually examine their behaviour and how they operate, they are anything but," he said.

"They seek to fear and intimidate by use of numbers and use of weapons. That's cowardice in itself. They seek to gain notoriety by this retail swarming activity, getting their hands on goods of all sorts.

Friends and family pay tribute to Solomone Taufeulungaki, 15, in Deer Park on Wednesday.Credit:Luis Ascui

"They seek to have this brotherhood type image ... The reality is in my experience they will sell each other out in the drop of a hat. I really do implore these kids to think what you are getting into bed with.

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On Wednesday, Solomone's parents were overcome with grief as they visited the site where their son was killed, but vowed to forgive his attackers.

Mr Hansen said he wanted the public to think about that image and what the boy's parents had said.

"I want that image to resonate with all of us as we think through how we are going to resolve what is a really wicked and complex problem for Victoria.

"[Solomone's parents] are not seeking an eye for an eye toward justice.

"What they want everyone to do is to mourn the loss of their son and learn from them. They don't want to see this happen again."

A GoFundMe online fundraiser had raised $50,000 for the family and Solomone's funeral.

Six boys, aged 13 to 16, faced the Children's Court on Wednesday night charged with violent disorder and affray in connection with the incident.

Solomone's father 'Atunaisa is overcome with grief at the scene, next to Solomone's mother Salome and aunt.Credit:Eddie Jim

Three were released on bail with strict conditions including a curfew. The magistrate indicated a possibility that more people could be charged over Solomone's death.

No one has been charged with directly causing his death.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiggFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL3BvbGljZS1jb21tdW5pdHktbWVtYmVycy1jb25kZW1uLWdhbmctY3VsdHVyZS1pbi13YWtlLW9mLXN0YWJiaW5nLTIwMjAwNjE4LXA1NTN6OS5odG1s0gGCAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnRoZWFnZS5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvdmljdG9yaWEvcG9saWNlLWNvbW11bml0eS1tZW1iZXJzLWNvbmRlbW4tZ2FuZy1jdWx0dXJlLWluLXdha2Utb2Ytc3RhYmJpbmctMjAyMDA2MTgtcDU1M3o5Lmh0bWw?oc=5

2020-06-18 08:36:38Z
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