Central Coast police launch summer safety campaign
Police will be out in force across the coast this summer to crack down on drink-driving, anti-social behaviour and maritime offences.
Central Coast
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On land, in the air or at sea the message could not be simpler – have fun this summer but stay in control.
Police will officially kick off the festive season’s high- visibility campaign this weekend targeting drink and drug-driving, anti-social behaviour and domestic violence.
Operation Impact will run throughout summer, seeing an increase in police patrols on the Central Coast’s roads, licensed venues and the region’s waterways.
The start of the summer-long campaign coincides this weekend with a statewide crackdown called Operation Chrome, which will see Traffic and Highway Patrol cars partnered with General Duties vehicles to effectively double the police presence on our roads.
“We are supportive of people enjoying living on the coast, enjoying the great place it is and enjoying summer,” Brisbane Water Chief Inspector Rod Peet said.
“However, all too often that enjoyment comes to a disappointing conclusion when people mix excessive quantities of alcohol and illicit drugs.
“Our objective over the summer period is to ensure the Central Coast is a safe environment for a good time out and we will be focusing on behaviour in licensed premises.”
Chief Insp Peet said police would be out in force this summer with additional random breath tests and mobile drug testing on and off the water to ensure people “arrive home safely”.
“Sometimes people’s mismanagement of drugs or alcohol causes them to end up in the back of an ambulance or the emergency department of a hospital, or worse still, in the cell of a police station,” he said.
Operation Impact co-ordinator Senior Constable Mick Taylor said in addition to Brisbane Water police district’s own vessel, local police would partner with multiple agencies including Marine Area Command, NSW Marine Rescue Central Coast and NSW Fisheries to ensure compliance on the region’s waterways.
Chief Insp Peet, meanwhile, said people often became complacent of the fact the same drink-driving rules applied to boat skippers.
“There’s a mentality they’re immune on the water,” he said.
“Our resources include numerous boats and we will have an increased police presence on the water. It’s a very undesirable end to a day on the water with police picking you up for drink-driving and having the police launch towing your boat back with your family on board. It’s humiliating and embarrassing but it’s also fundamentally unsafe.”