Melbourne’s foreshores will be the focus of a safety blitz this summer, with an influx of locals and visitors expected to head to the beach as temperatures soar.
Operation Summersafe will run day and night over the summer months, providing a heighted police presence in and around areas including St Kilda, Half Moon Bay, Altona and Williamstown, as well as across the Mornington Peninsula.
Local police from both North West and Southern Metropolitan Regions – with assistance from Water Police, the Mounted Branch, Public Order Response Team, Highway Patrol and Transit Safety Division – will flood foreshores, surrounding parks, entertainment precincts and public transport hubs.
With proactive patrols in vehicles, on foot and horseback – as well as on the water – police will be poised to respond to incidents in a timely matter.
Residents of and visitors to the area can expect to see mobile policing units deployed across busy areas, which will serve as a central hub for the community to engage with police, while officers can also monitor anti-social behaviour.
Police will also utilise an extensive CCTV network to monitor crime in real-time, respond quickly to incidents, and disrupt or de-escalate crimes before or as they occur or worsen.
Outside of Melbourne, there will be dedicated local operations at busy summer destinations including the Mornington Peninsula and Surf and Bass Coasts.
Victoria Police’s approach will be centred around keeping the community safe by maintaining public order, detecting and disrupting criminal offending, and keeping the roads safe through roadside drug and alcohol tests.
Members will also be conducting OMNI operations, with their sights set firmly on those carrying concealed weapons who are endangering the lives of others. Under the Control of Weapons Act 1990, designated areas have been declared for weapons searches.
Operation Summersafe will run until March 2024.
To report any suspicious or anti-social behaviour, phone the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000)
Quotes attributable to Port Phillip Local Area Commander, Superintendent Adrian Healy:
“While we’ve had a bit of a wet start to the season, temperatures are finally heating up, and we are expecting the number of beachgoers to rise as the mercury does too.
“Unfortunately, some revellers will party too hard and drink too much or consume illicit substances over the holiday period, which increases the likelihood of anti-social behaviour occurring in our popular locations.
“We will have a number of OMNI operations occurring as part of Summersafe, intended to target those carrying concealed weapons in our community.
“While most people will do the right thing and party safely, we know that some will opt to put others in harm’s way.
“Victoria Police will do everything in its power to ensure everyone can make it home at the end of their day or night at the beach.”
