Summer to heat up for police at southeast beaches
Gangs causing trouble and anti-social behaviour will be in the firing line as police take a zero-tolerance approach this summer in a bid to avoid a repeat of incidents that plagued popular foreshores, including Chelsea and St Kilda, last year.
Inner South
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Police will swarm beaches around Port Phillip Bay as the weather heats up with operation summer safe set to crack down on troublesome revellers.
A significant increase in police numbers and a greater flexibility between divisions will help deal with incidents that plagued popular foreshores last summer.
With the mercury occasionally pushing 30 degrees in November, Chelsea police station officer in charge Senior Sergeant Alex Jackson said arrests had already been made as a zero-tolerance policy was enforced.
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“We will be out in force on all beaches in the area, and working with other divisions to make sure we have a strong presence wherever it’s needed,” Sen-Sgt Jackson said.
“There will be a zero-tolerance stance on anti-social behaviour and any offending.”
Police will use a marked all-terrain vehicle to patrol beaches and water police will keep tabs on jet skis.
“Jet skis were a big issue last summer so the message is for people operating them to be warned, they will be targeted heavily if they’re doing the wrong thing,” Sen-Sgt Jackson said.
Despite the increased numbers of police at beaches, Sen-Sgt Jackson said normal responses won’t be affected.
“The increase in numbers will come from additional police working, so other areas won’t be affected,” he said.
Chelsea police Senior Sergeant Ron Klajnblat said it was vital the public continued to report incidents so police could respond.
“It helps us be proactive with where we are policing, so the public plays a key role in helping us with that,” Sen-Sgt Klajnblat said.
Operation summer safe comes after a number of incidents at popular beaches in the southeast last year.
Gangs unleashed on beachgoers at Chelsea at Christmas time, ransacking bags and bashing bathers.
It’s understood a cricket bat was used in one assault at the beach.
In St Kilda, CCTV cameras were installed to give police a live stream of happenings at Melbourne’s most popular beach after more than 30 people were arrested there during December.
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On December 6, 16 people were arrested on the St Kilda foreshore for offences including being drunk in a public place, possessing drugs of dependence, attempted robbery, assaulting police, criminal damage and failing to obey lawful direction.
The operation will run from December 1 to March 31.
A community business information session will take place in the front foyer of the Chelsea RSL at 4pm on Monday 25 November.