Constable Brett Moreland with a reminder to party hosts to register their event. Picture: TARA ASHWORTH
IT took seven police patrols to break up a 16th birthday that broke out of control in Wodonga, as about 150 underage party-goers spilled out into the street and ran riot.
Wodonga police had to call in back-up from Beechworth and Albury to close down the Friday night birthday bash, which left McEachern Court littered with alcohol cans, bottles and an odd stiletto shoe.
Sgt Mal Clarke said of the more than 100 people at the unregistered party on Friday night, where alcohol was being consumed, only a handful were over 18.
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The hosts were yesterday unwilling to comment about what had happened except to confirm the party, which had been advertised on Facebook, had been gatecrashed.
Sgt Clarke said the gathering began early on Friday evening and after numerous warnings to quieten down, police returned to the party at 11.15pm.
They found kids “running in the street” and the hosts, having lost control of the celebration, asked the police to shut the event down.
It took officers more than an hour to clear the West Wodonga street and seven police cars from both sides of the Border, to get all the young people to leave.
“There were several incidents of minor fighting between groups and then they scattered through the streets and parklands throwing bottles and generally being unpleasant,” Sgt Clarke said.
Police dropped several children home after the party.
No charges have been laid over the incident.
Instead, it has prompted police to again remind those having a party to contact their local station beforehand and complete a Party Safe registration form which includes a checklist of things to consider.