THE scene is familiar to police.
A teenager throws a party and posts an invitation on a MySpace profile.
Only close friends are supposed to read the invitation, but it's quickly passed on to other profiles, who then spread it online and via text messages - and the party host is suddenly faced with a swarm of gatecrashers.
And police are called to clean up the mess.
Sound familiar?
It is this easy access to new technology, such as text messages and Facebook, and the power they have to spread information and footage of crimes at the touch of a button, that has changed the way Victoria Police respond to and investigate crimes.
Investigations have become more sophisticated as crimes such as schoolyard brawls and drag races are posted on YouTube for audiences around the globe to see.
Such footage has become a handy tool for police.
Victoria Police inspector for youth affairs Steve Soden said the power of new-age technologies to communicate was phenomenal.
"What it's meant is [that] in a short amount of time you can have a large amount of people, a gathering, and to give you an example of that, prior to the Cronulla riots [in Sydney], there were more than 270,000 text messages sent calling for a racial riot," he said.
"You see the air wing, you see the dog squad who have to come in to disperse the crowd. Because people can gather in large numbers quicker, our response is often at that level, because that's what is required.
"It is more common that parties will also get out of control," Inspector Soden said.
"You put the invite on a social networking site - how can you cater for who is going to attend?
"Young people really don't understand the consequences."
The worrying trend has prompted the emergence of new safety issues for young people and police, with large crowds often more likely to attack each other and officers.
"The degree of trouble is heightened ... the sheer number of people who can be instantly mobilised makes the use or misuse of technology a vital consideration for operational members," Inspector Soden said.
"We have to deal with the consequences and this really is a community issue ... It starts with computer supervision, and the influence of family supervision and guidance plays a significant role in the development of problem behaviour."
Senior Sergeant Russell Patten, of Endeavour Hills police, said posting an open-house invitation on the net was "very ill advised".
"You just don't know who's going to turn up - there are predators out there, and you don't know their background history.
"There's a greater likelihood things will go pear-shaped."
Acting Inspector Bruce Kitchen, of Narre Warren police, says out of control parties are "one of our priorities" and police will be looking at "proactive measures" to try and put an end to them.
"We run operations all the time in regard to noisy parties but we will also be working with the council to consider new local laws and looking at liquor outlets.
"Selling alcohol to under 18s carries a $627 fine for the offender, as does buying alcohol for someone under 18," Inspector Kitchen says.
Adolescent psychologist and Monash University lecturer Simon Crisp says that while the attitude of teenagers hasn't changed, technology has given them more outlets to express themselves.
Teenagers feel they need to assert themselves and gain some form of power over their lives, but technology has made it easier for the community to get caught up in it all, he says.
Dr Crisp sympathises with parents, saying it is difficult to know how to deal with teenagers who get themselves into trouble.
"[Teenagers] need to realise the consequences of their actions, but at that age they are still children. They are still growing and developing and trying to understand the world.
"So the parents need to have some understanding and give them a way back into the family [if they make a mistake].
"They need to ensure protection and they need to reinforce and rejuvenate relationships in the family, which will allow teenagers to save some face."
Australian Childhood Foundation chief executive officer Joe Tucci says parents talking to their children could help to prevent problems.
He suggests parents discuss the consequences of risk-taking with their child and agree on ground rules.
"Setting boundaries together, like discussing how many guests is a reasonable amount to attend a party, is more effective than banning it altogether.
"If they're involved in the decision-making they're less likely to break the rules."
PARTY SAFE TIPS:
Register the party with the police.
Set boundaries about alcohol, if any will be permitted at all.
Alert your neighbours.
Invite some adult helpers and work out who will do what.
Have only one entrance to the party.
Have food available to slow alcohol absorption.
Restrict the number of people and enforce an 'invite-only' policy.
If you are a guest, do not spread the invitation to others.
If your child is a guest: drop them off yourself and arrange to pick them up at a certain time.
Email a friend