The so-called Apex gang is effectively dead, and was never a predominantly foreign or ethnic group of offenders, according to Victoria Police.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the gang, which came to prominence at last year's Moomba Festival riot, was now a "non-entity".

"We believe we have, if you like, taken out - for lack of a better word - or charged, the majority of the leaders of that gang, and have imprisoned them," he said.

"It's substantially diminished - so much so, we would really call them pretty much a non-entity in terms of a gang. We certainly think they're in recession."