Senior politicians' claims of an African gang crisis have lent legitimacy to far-right groups who are now planning vigilante action, experts say.
The True Blue Crew claim they plan to attend crimes in progress and make citizens' arrests, while the Soldiers of Odin say they are running "safety patrols" in the CBD.
True Blue Crew leader Kane Miller outside the meeting on Sunday.Credit:Mathew Lynn
The groups have also been actively recruiting through suburban neighbourhood watch groups, targeting people who have fears for their safety, experts say.
"The far-right are looking for a new cause, something that they can try to get the public on side with. This comes forward now because the comments from the federal government are making this look acceptable," says Dr Andre Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute and lecturer in cybersecurity at La Trobe's Law School.
A True Blue Crew member at the meeting on Sunday.Credit:Mathew Lynn
On Sunday the True Blue Crew met, reportedly to discuss setting up a neighbourhood watch network so members can react to robberies and home invasions in-progress and make citizens arrests.
"We have a few ideas we hope to put in place. It's about time the community got involved, because it's clear to see the police cannot save us all," leader Kane Miller told Channel Seven News.
Channel Seven faced intense backlash after interviewing United Patriots leader Blair Cottrell about his thoughts on the so-called African gangs crisis.
True Blue Crew did not respond to requests for comment.
United Patriots Front and True Blue Crew rose to prominence in 2015 as anti-Islam groups that clashed violently with left-wing groups in a series of rallies around the nation.
But over the last two years, the groups' influence has dwindled as authorities cracked down on them..
In September three United Patriots Front members were found guilty of inciting contempt against Muslims. After government pressure, Facebook and Twitter shut down several pages the groups were using to rally and organise followers.
"They've lost their presence, and their arguments have been completely blown out of the water by the courts," Mr Oboler says.
But the groups have now pivoted from anti-Islam to anti-immigrant, Mr Oboler says.
"[There is an] effort by some of these far-right groups to try to reclaim the spotlight, to take up something they think they'll get public support on."
Australian National University radicalisation expert Dr Clarke Jones agrees that political leaders' comments on African gangs have breathed life into extremist groups.
"It's almost been legitimised by comments from the federal government. They've generated this problem, the people on the far-right are seeing that we're in jeopardy and we need to protect ourselves," Dr Jones said.
Anthony Kelly, executive officer of the Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre, called on Friday for politicians to "start working toward social cohesion rather than division".
In recent weeks Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has talked of "growing gang violence and lawlessness" in Victoria, while Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said "African gang violence" had made Victorians "scared to go out to restaurants".
A spokeswoman for Minister Dutton said he had "condemned individuals on the extreme right and left".
"Academics playing politics make themselves feel better, but add little to the public debate," she said.
Right-wing extremism is considered a serious threat by state and federal authorities.
While there are fewer of the risk factors seen in Europe and North America - such as links to economic disadvantage driving extremism in the UK, and access to firearms in the US - there remains concern at the increased ability of the groups to mobilise and expand, which has largely been driven by social media.
There are also indications the groups are increasingly becoming emboldened by the behaviour and "success" of similar movements overseas.
In August 2016, police charged a Melbourne man with terror-related offences — the first time a right-wing extremist had faced such accusations.
One federal Liberal MP has suggested signs be put up at the NSW-Victorian border to warn drivers they have an increased chance of car theft in the southern state.
"Talking about signs at the border - this is ill-informed and offensive to all Victorians. What comes out of Canberra is a circus."
An Age ReachTEL phone poll conducted on January 7 showed more than a third of those surveyed in the safe Labor electorate of Tarneit said they or someone they knew had been a victim of gang violence in the past year.
In the marginal Labor electorate of Cranbourne more than a quarter said gang violence had affected them or someone they knew in the same period.
A majority of respondents said they were less likely to go out at night then they were 12 months ago due to the threat of gang violence.
With AAP
Know more? Email liam.mannix@fairfaxmedia.com.au