Bass Coast police prepare for Schoolies events

Thousands of schoolies will flock to party playgrounds across the Bass Coast from Friday, and police are warning of a zero-tolerance approach towards anti-social behaviour.

Police in traditional schoolies hot spots are preparing for thousands of teens looking to celebrate the end of school with a zero-tolerance approach to any anti-social behaviour.

Bass Coast Service Police Senior Sergeant Brent Muir said while schoolies had every right to have fun in the sun, he warned them that water, alcohol and hot weather can be a lethal mix.

“We want them to come and enjoy what the area has got to offer — but we want them to be safe and respectful of the local community and enjoy sights and sounds,” he said.

“We want to push the message surrounding water safety in the fact that water and alcohol don’t mix — if they can refrain from entering the water when they consume alcohol.

“We encourage the Schoolies students not to enter the water after dark and to swim between flags and licensed beaches.”

Bass Coast police Senior Sergeant Brent Muir is encouraging schoolies to refrain from entering the water if they have consume alcohol. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Sen-Sgt Brent Muir said there would be a boost in police resourcing with schoolies expected to hot popular Bass Coast locations from Friday, November 24 to Sunday, December 3.

He said there would be 30 extra police officers drafted in to help local police manage the crowds.

Phillip Island and the Bass Coast area had up to 2000 school leavers last year. Picture: Supplied

Police crews assisting will be from Latrobe Valley, the Public Order Response Team and the Offender Management Team.

Highway patrol officers will be targeting speed, drug alcohol-related driving, seatbelts and mobile phone use offences, Sen-Sgt Muir said.

Water Police will also patrol the beaches to ensure the safety of swimmers.

The water police are expected to have a busy summer with thousands heading to tourists hotspots. Picture: Supplied

Sen-Sgt Muir said the end of year would be a high fire danger period and there would be no tolerance for fires or fireworks on the beach.

Areas around the Mornington Peninsula and the Surf Coast have been “reasonably quiet” so far but numbers were starting to increase.

“It’s really a daily thing where we look at the intelligence — they come when they come,” Sgt Muir said.

The warning comes as 18-year-old son of SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens died after he was hit by a car on Goolwa Beach on November 17.

Police have advised that all the additional police units and monitoring public behaviour will assist in preventing Schoolies-related incidents, and encourage school leavers to look after themselves and their mates.

“We will be very active to keep the community safe as a whole and tourists too,” Sgt Muir said.