Police are patrolling Altona North ‘in numbers’ ahead of a planned anti-lockdown protest
Police are patrolling Altona North “in numbers” ahead of an anti-lockdown protest planned for Monday night. A vehicle checkpoint has been set up and the police air wing is monitoring the area.
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Police have flooded a fast food car park in Melbourne’s south west responding to another planned lockdown protest.
Uniformed officers alongside the mounted branch are on scene this evening at the Altona North McDonald’s on Millers Rd responding to a “planned prohibited gathering” due to start at 5pm.
A vehicle checkpoint has been set up on Millers Rd and the air wing is also monitoring surrounding suburbs.
The strong police presence has so far deterred any protesters from turning up.
The Herald Sun understands a group of men planned to meet at the McDonald’s car park and march in Altona North, similar to protests seen in Dandenong and Broadmeadows in the last week.
Victoria Police said they were patrolling the area “in numbers” with a view of issuing fines to anyone breaching lockdown orders and making prompt arrests if necessary.
“Under Stage 4 restrictions it is very clear that people cannot leave their home to protest,” police spokeswoman Nikki Ladgrove said.
“Organising and participating in this proposed protest would be a serious and blatant breach of the Chief Health Officer directions and jeopardises the health of the entire community.
“The fact that people are thinking now is the appropriate time, to come out and protest against the current restrictions in place is utterly selfish.
“This activity has the potential to send Victoria backwards, undermining all of the hard work, and the sacrifices everyone has had to make to slow the spread of the virus.
“Police are also actively investigating those responsible for co-ordinating and planning this evening’s protest activity.”
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