Geelong Police praise New Year’s Eve crowds across the region

Authorities have claimed a “major victory” with New Year’s Eve revellers lauded for an almost faultless night of celebrating across the Geelong region.

Eastern Beach in Geelong was a popular spot to bring in the New Year.

AUTHORITIES have claimed a “major victory” with New Year’s Eve revellers praised for an almost faultless night of celebrating across the city.

The cells were a lonely place overnight with few arrests and minimal violence as thousands brought in 2023 along the foreshore and in the city’s bars and clubs.

Geelong Police Sergeant Shannon Thompson said a huge increase in police presence across the festive season had worked and he commended the community.

Punters celebrate New Year’s Eve at Eastern Beach, Geelong.

“We had quite a lot more police out and about early last night, and it maybe sets the tone early,” he said.

“If people see them on every corner it might be enough for them to reign it in or not have that last drink.

“Overall it was a success and we were unscathed from a policing term.”

Sergeant Thompson said only four arrests were made for public drunkenness overnight and there were “a couple of little scraps”, but otherwise partygoers were well behaved.

Eastern Beach and the foreshore was packed with punters keen to see the two massive fireworks displays.

“There was only a few little spot fires of assault, but nothing major where someone needed urgent hospitalisation or anything like that,” he said.

Geelong police have had a high visibility in the CBD this festive season. Picture: Mark Wilson

“There were no major incidents, there were no major injuries and we only had four arrested for public drunkenness.

“I think overall that is a pretty good night considering how many thousands of people were out and about having a good night.

“I think you can call it a victory and a bit of a team effort from everyone involved, from the community to the police and we were major incident free.”

As of Sunday morning there had been no drink driving arrests.

A family enjoying some beach cricket on New Year’s Eve.

Torquay Police Leading Senior Constable, Rodger Licheni, said their had been no unruly behaviour along the Surf Coast despite thousands of visitors holidaying in the region.

A large gathering of youths along the seaside town’s main beach were observed but no major incidents reported.
“A part from a few hundred kids down on the foreshore partying there was not anything major and it all went fairly well,” he said.

“It was pretty busy and we did have several hundred kids roaming around the beaches but that is normal.”

Lorne Senior Constable Sam Kelly said the holiday hotspot had been “very uneventful” and praised tourists and residents.

“There were large crowd but no issues, no trouble caused and no major incidents at all,” he said.

Originally published as Geelong Police praise New Year’s Eve crowds across the region