Brighton-Le-Sands hoons: Bayside Council in off-duty cop solution

A council is proposing bringing in off-duty cops as hoons threaten to take over a south Sydney suburb.

A Sydney council wants to fund off-duty cops to patrol a notorious hooning strip on weekends in an effort to stamp out “car hoons” and “anti-social behaviour”.

A polite banner hoisted over the Brighton-Le-Sands drag strip otherwise known as Bay St in late 2020 asked motorists to “respect our neighbourhood, stay safe, and slow down”.

However, Bayside Council’s war on hoons continues after yet another rowdy weekend of drag racing, cars through fences and burnouts from one end of the road to the other.

At the upcoming meeting, Bayside Council will consider a motion from councillors Bill Saravinovski and Ed McDougall to explore whether the council could fund off-duty police to patrol Bay St and The Grand Parade.

“(The motion is) that the general manager reports back to the April meeting advising how we can fund off-duty police to conduct foot patrols along Bay St and surrounding areas to target anti-social behaviour including car hoons on Saturday and Sunday nights,” the motion states.

“(It is also suggested) that the council investigates traffic calming and traffic management options along Bay St.”

Councillor Andrew Tsounis, Mayor Joe Awada, Peaceful Bayside Representatives, and Deputy Mayor James Macdonald at a media stop about hooning in Brighton-Le-Sands.

A council spokesman told the St George Shire Standard the council and St George Police Area Command have continued to cooperatively address anti-social behaviour in Brighton.

“Building on our Summer Foreshore Program, the council and the police have agreed to continue discussions about how they can work together to address the ongoing issues of hooning and anti-social behaviour along the bay,” the spokesman said.

“The suggestion that the council consider engaging off duty police will be one of the topics discussed at these meetings.”

In a joint statement Cr Saravinovski and Cr McDougall said they were concerned the behaviour put lives at risk.

Police made a number of arrests in relation to hoons last month

“We must act now to protect the public health and safety of residents, visitors and businesses in our busy Bay St and surrounding streets in Brighton-Le-Sands.”

Last weekend residents reported hooning in the Sans Souci and Sandringham area, with one Vanston Pde resident reporting a car crashed through her fence before the driver allegedly fled the scene.