Stay away toolies: Police warn gatecrashers ahead of Schoolies

A ‘very robust’ police presence – including weapons detection – is planned for this year’s Schoolies event on the Gold Coast, with older gatecrashers warned off.

Police have warned of a ‘very robust’ presence at the Gold Coast’s Schoolies event from this weekend, including around-the-clock use of metal detectors, as they prepare for the Covid-19-impacted class of 2021 to hit the streets of Surfers Paradise.

Hundreds of cops including drug dog officers and police armed with metal detectors will be on patrol during Schoolies which starts tomorrow.

Gold Coast police acting chief superintendent Rhys Wildman said police were on alert for ‘whatever may come our way’, including older ‘toolies’ looking to gatecrash the event after last year’s Schoolies was cancelled due to the pandemic.

“We will have a very robust policing response,” he said.

“There will be significant numbers of police from around Queensland, including uniformed, plainclothes and specialist officers. We’re very mindful that we have to look after our school-leavers – they’re the priority for us.”

All is calm ahead of the Schoolies frenzy.

Supt Wildman said a police ‘wanding’ trial that began in April would operate 24/7 during Schoolies, with police using metal detectors to check teen revellers for weapons.

“A lot of school leavers are coming in from outside the Gold Coast so might not be aware that here in our safe night precincts, police do not need a reasonable suspicion to search you using the wanding powers,” he said.

“You can be wanded at any time.”

Supt Wildman said nearly 2000 people had been ‘wanded’ during the trial so far, with 56 weapons including axes and swords seized.

A temporary emergency hospital has been set up on the Surfers Esplanade and paramedics will roam the precinct on push bikes and on foot.

Queensland Schoolies Advisory Group chairman Mark Reaburn said up to 20,000 Queensland school-leavers were expected to celebrate in the fenced-off Schoolies ‘hub’ on Surfers Paradise Beach.

Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said police were on alert for ‘whatever may come our way’, including older ‘toolies’ looking to gatecrash the event after last year’s Schoolies was cancelled due to the pandemic.

They will be looked after by about 1000 volunteers, including 600 Red Frogs chaplains, and officials from nine government agencies including police, the Queensland Ambulance Service and Gold Coast Health.

“It’s called a rite of passage,” Mr Reaburn said.

“People say ban it, stop it – we can’t stop it, we don’t control the accommodation. These schoolies are coming and we’re responding.

“We’re ready, we hope the kids are safe and we hope they emerge from Schoolies 2021 with great memories.”

Originally published as Stay away toolies: Police warn gatecrashers ahead of Schoolies