Gold Coast water police launch Operation Spring Safety targeting tinny rats and water safety

Extra police are out and about across Gold Coast waterways in a school holiday blitz. Read the latest

Misbehaving youths on Gold Coast waterways are on notice with extra police patrols and officers out over the school holidays.

Operation Spring Safety will see more random vessel checks, safety inspections, and enforcement over the next two weeks.

“The unsafe practices that some of the young offenders continue to do on our waterways, they’re our primary focus” Gold Coast Acting Sergeant Paul Singer said.

“School holidays historically brings in the most complaints for us.”

Gold Coast Acting Sergeant Paul Singer said there would be more police water patrols.

So called ‘tinny rats’, young teens driving recklessly through the Broadwater and canals, have been an ongoing issue for the city.

The operation between Gold Coast Water Police and the Child Protection and Investigation Unit aims to educate and deter young offenders.

“We’ve had occurrences where juveniles have actually lost control of their vessels at high speed,” Acting Sgt Singer said.

“It can be pretty dangerous and unlike a car there are no seatbelts.”

Officers from Gold Coast Water Police and the Child Protection and Investigation Unit have partnered for the school holiday blitz.

On Tuesday morning officers were conducting patrols along the Nerang River near Mermaid Waters and intercepted four separate boats that were being operated by unlicensed children.

CPIU Plain Clothes Senior Constable Molly Atkinson said one of the juveniles stopped by police was just 12-years-old.

“It’s concerning obviously when we find them operating a vessel alone or with other children” Senior Constable Atkinson said.

“The reason we’re out here is to educate these people about the serious nature of what they’re doing and the dangers.

“Most of the time when we do have those conversations with these kids, they do understand and they’re pretty good with us.”