Police Monitor Melbourne Lockdown Protest

Police Monitor Melbourne Lockdown Protest
Victorian police maintain a heavy presence outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court on April 3, 2006. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)
AAP
By AAP
8/26/2020
Updated:
8/26/2020

Protesters have spilled onto suburban streets in Melbourne’s outer southeast to rebel against the city’s strict COVID-19 lockdown rules.

Vision circulating online shows more than 100 people walking through the streets of Dandenong on Aug. 26 afternoon.

At least a dozen officers could be seen on site monitoring activity in the area.

Police said the protest was “recurring” at George Andrews Reserve each afternoon, with 11 fines issued on Aug. 25.

“Anyone planning to attend this protest would be blatantly breaching the chief health officer’s directions and putting Victorian lives at risk,” Victoria Police said in a statement on Aug. 26.

“Be assured Victoria Police will be responding and will take appropriate action.”

A 17-year-old Endeavour Hills man was also arrested on Aug. 25 after failing to provide identification for breaching the chief health officer’s directions.

He was remanded to face Children’s Court on Aug. 26 on charges of assaulting police, failing to state his name and address, and breaching bail conditions as well as health guidelines.

Tuesday’s protest activity remains under investigation.

By Callum Godde