South-East Boys (south eastern), The Lavs (Laverton), B4L Brothers 4 Life (western), The Clan (western), KBK (Kick Back Krew, western), North Side Boys, LBK (Lazy But Crazy, south east graffiti gang), ROM (Running Over Melbourne, southeast) MBML (My Brothers, My Life).

Asian, Arabic, Islander, African and southern European gangs are all active in the city and often target each other in turf wars.

One of the most sophisticated and feared is the highly organised Southern Cross Soldiers, a white Australia gang with four "chapters'' across Melbourne.

SCS members have been linked to race hate crimes.

Police shooting victim Tyler Cassidy, 15, was a SCS member. He was shot in 2008 after arming himself with knives and confronting police in Northcote.

SCS has hundreds of members but struggled to get 40 to an Australia Day rally at Mordialloc beach in 2009.

Other race gangs include: SSS (South Side Sudanese), Arabian Soldiers Arab Defenders (Newport), Lebanese gang CLW, KMC (Kill more Curries), TB (Turban Bashers), ETB (East Timorese Boys), Coburg Lebos, Oakleigh Wogs, EthioRydaz (an Ethiopian gang), M C-Un1tz (Multi-race gang), and Tongan gang DSC (Dirty Saint Crips).




Veteran youth worker Les Twentyman has called on police and the State Government to "come clean'' on gangs.

Mr Twentyman blamed their "head in the sand'' mentality for an explosion in gangs in recent years.

The Herald Sun yesterday revealed police were monitoring more than 70 gangs in the wake of the UK riots.

Mr Twentyman said one of his 20th Man youth workers was stabbed and robbed by an Islander gang in Altona last month but police told local media it was not a gang-related attack.

"It is time for police command and the Government to begin to listen to those who see this problem daily,'' Mr Twentyman said.

"It is time for the spin and denial to stop, and for effective policies to be implemented to stop the rise of gangs before we are faced with the same issues gripping the UK.''

Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana said riots were less likely here but were possible among pockets of disadvantaged and disenfranchised youth, particularly in high jobless areas.

These areas are often home to recent immigrants and include high-rise public housing.

Mr Fontana said the force was working with local communities to find solutions.

"It's not just a policing issue. It's about the community taking some ownership as well,'' he said.

"There are some groups that are actually quite aggressive every time we approach them.

"They're not only aggressive to us, they've got a chip on their shoulder and they show that aggression to people on the street. There is a general lack of respect out there that's part of the problem.''

Other gangs include: South-East Boys (south eastern), The Lavs (Laverton), B4L Brothers 4 Life (western), The Clan (western), KBK (Kick Back Krew, western), North Side Boys, LBK (Lazy But Crazy, south east graffiti gang), ROM (Running Over Melbourne, southeast) MBML (My Brothers, My Life).

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