A police spokeswoman said: "A number of projectiles, believed to be rocks, have been thrown and a police vehicle has been damaged." Riot police went to the scene and the police continued to patrol the area as the youths dispersed and were moved on a short time later, the spokeswoman said. One resident of Bronte Way said more than 100 African Australian youths had been across the road in the park and basketball court complex. He said police were roaming the area and a helicopter was flying overhead when he came home as well as officers from the special operations group. "This has happened multiple times... but it hasn't happened for a good four or five months," the resident said.

With several small children at home, the man - who spoke to The Age through the glass of his front door - said he was extremely concerned for his safety and was considering moving. "That's the reason we have roller shutters now. I'm not opening the door. I was told by police to get inside before." Another couple, who live opposite the basketball court with their two children aged under ten, said the groups of teenage boys and girls started gathering just before 7pm. They said some of them were still wearing their school backpacks and looked to be aged between 12 and 18.

"I heard some kids coming down Bronte Way and I looked out the window and I heard another lot and the next thing I knew there was sirens. Blue and red sirens," the woman said. "The [police] dogs were out there, that was a bit later on, it just got full on. My neighbour on the corner said they were throwing rocks at her fence. "I popped my head out and the two police officers said stay inside." She said one neighbour had been told by police that two groups of people had planned to come down and meet to start a brawl. Her husband said they had bought the block and built the house in 2007, but the past couple of years had been troublesome.

"We've been here nine years and this is the worst yet... You build a nice house in a nice area... you don't want to start seeing things like that, where is it coming from?" he said. No one was injured, no arrests had been made and there was no threat to community safety as a result of the incident, police said. The police later put the crowd estimate at about 20 to 30 youths.

The damage to the police vehicle will be investigated. Police also said in the statement that ongoing efforts would continue to be made to address community concerns about safety in the western suburbs as part of Operation Regnant. A number of specialist units were used including the Operations Response Unit and the Public Order Response Team to ensure public safety.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. More to come