Police had to break up a 'under-age alcohol-charged party' at Staunton Harold Reservoir on Friday night - and want to speak to the organisers of the event which broke Covid-19 rules.

It was described as an 'after-dark pre-arranged, social media-advertised gathering of dozens of blurry-eyed youths'.

But officers also reported that parents had dropped their children off at the venue - and then complained when they were told to come and get them by police.

The event was also attended by 'much older men, whose motives remain unclear' and it resembled a 'mini-Glastonbury.'

Police say they were alerted when local residents complained.

But while most left when asked, a group refused to go and hurled insults at officers before making off across farmland.

The Melbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team's Facebook gave details of what happened.

The post reads: "Conventionally, Friday evening patrols are busy, bustling occasions. And this was no different.

"Police were responding to a range of incidents including reports of criminal damage; uninsured vehicles; and providing support to a vulnerable adult at risk of exploitation.

"With the benefit of hindsight officers should have perhaps taken note of the spectacular, amber-rich atmospheric glow of the sunset when they started their duties, as it proved to be a metaphorical warning of the unseemly behaviour that was to follow.

"With considerable frustration, officers from three, fully-occupied Safer Neighbourhood Teams were diverted from their duties to break up a pre-arranged, social media-advertised gathering of dozens of blurry-eyed youths at Staunton Harold Reservoir.

"Mercia Safer Neighbourhood Team, along with officers from Melbourne SNT and Etwall, Hilton and Hatton SNT responded to reports of teenagers travelling appreciable distances - including from Etwall, Alvaston and Chellaston - to the closed-to-the-public reservoir for an after-dark, under-age alcohol-charged party.

"Naturally, the prospect of such a gathering was a concern to local residents living near the entrance to the privately-owned reservoir.

"Arriving at the scene, officers discovered a cacophony of highly-spirited young people - many laden down with rucksacks filled with clinking bottles of beer, vodka and gin - forming a steady conga-like flow into what was quickly resembling a mini-Glastonbury at the 85-hectare rural location.

"Also in attendance were much older men, whose motives remain unclear, providing what appeared to be a ready-supply of alcohol.

"Officers engaged with the young people, and most were well-mannered, apologetic and quickly dispersed.

"In fact, at one point in the evening a line of red-faced teenagers formed what resembled a taxi-rank-line, waiting for parents to collect and take them home.

"Troubling, many of these same parents had dropped off the youngsters at the location earlier in the evening.

"Some remonstrated with officers with excuses such as: "You've ruined my evening, having to come out here to collect him" and "I don't know what the local people are moaning about."

"As with so many pleasant evenings, as the haze of the alcohol settles, events can often slip out of control.

"Sadly, a hard core of testosterone-fuelled imprudent males refused to leave the location, preferring to hurl an acrid flow of obscene, colourful threats at attending officers.

"These angry remonstrances in woodland continued for some time, until the youths ran from the scene across farmland towards the village of Ticknall.

"Following the unsettling incident, officers are now encouraging parents not to view Staunton Harold Reservoir as an after-dark kindergarten for their teenage children.

"Mercia SNT is stressing the fact that Staunton Harold is a working reservoir, containing extremely deep water in a very isolated location.

"Young people, especially those in drink, could very easily wander and fall into the water, which is incredibly difficult to get out of.

"The water in the reservoir also contains dangerous blue algae, not to mention the very cold water temperature.

"There are many hidden obstacles beneath the surface and therefore the risk of drowning at this location is very clear and present.

"Investigations are underway to trace the organisers of the gathering - with those responsible facing fines for breaching current guidance."

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