Police Minister Lisa Neville has decried the "deplorable" behaviour of a 15-year-old boy who drove a stolen car in a highly erratic manner during a high-speed chase, as the incident again thrust the issues of youth crime and police pursuits into the spotlight.
Two more teens were arrested late Saturday afternoon over the hair-raising pursuit, after two girls were arrested and charged on Friday. One remains on the run.
![A BMW driver led police on an extremely dangerous high-speed pursuit north of Melbourne for more than an hour.](/web/20161126145158im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/x/v/g/l/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsy5da.png/1480162683449.jpg)
Ms Neville reiterated on Saturday that the boy responsible for the chase on Friday and others who commit serious offences would be held to account.
But she would not question the actions of police in allowing the chase to continue at speeds of about 150 km/h for almost an hour before ending the pursuit as the boy reached Bendigo.
![The car travelled at high speeds, darting in and out of lanes.](/web/20161126145158im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/x/v/g/k/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsy5da.png/1480162683449.jpg)
There have been more than a dozen serious incidents relating to police pursuits since the policy was revamped four months ago.
These include the fatal police shooting of a man who pinned an officer to a wall during a pursuit, police shooting at another driver during a pursuit, an alleged crime rampage which ended with offenders arrested on top of the West Gate bridge, at least eight instances of police cars being rammed, and several high-speed pursuits lasting several hours.
In late July, Victoria Police command allowed its officers more discretion to decide when to pursue an offender, after the previous policy had been found to be ineffective, and compromised the safety of officers and the public.
The Police Association backed the changes.
![The stolen BMW came to an abrupt halt.](/web/20161126145158im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/x/v/f/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsy5da.png/1480162683449.jpg)
But further details about the new measures were not released, as command believed publicity surrounding the previous policy had empowered criminals to take on their pursuers.
Ms Neville described the driver's behaviour during Friday's pursuit, which started about 3pm near Lancefield, as "outrageous".
Ms Neville said she wasn't going to "second guess" the decision to call off the pursuit, saying anyone who saw the footage would understand how erratic the driver was.
"The decision was made that the lives of others were at risk," she said.
Coalition police spokesman Edward O'Donohue said the pursuit again showed youth offenders were running wild.
"This extended pursuit is just another example of the youth crime problem in Victoria," he said. "Whether it's in the youth justice facilities, on the road or in the community, we've got a youth justice crisis."
Ms Neville said the number of youth offenders had actually decreased in the past five years, but acknowledged some were committing serious crimes at a younger age.
"What we've seen over the last five years is a serious decline in young offending . But some of these groups are way too young. This is going to require everyone working together."
Acting Commander Tim Hansen said Victoria Police was considering how best to steer young people away from a life of crime.
"We're working across government to try to work out how we get those wrap-around services once we arrest them," he said.
"It's a whole of government approach, and not just a police solution."
On Saturday afternoon, police found the stolen BMW dumped on Alvarado Avenue in Thomastown just before 5pm.
Shortly afterwards, a 17-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were arrested close by.
On Friday, two Thomastown girls, aged 14 and 17, were charged with car theft in relation to the pursuit.
Police are searching for a fifth person involved in Friday's car chase, a male who is known to police.