On the beat: Mayor Stretch Kontelj joins police patrolling Geelong’s party strip on Little Malop and James St
Police leapt into action as a bloody bust-up and sudden collapse unfolded on Geelong’s party strip in the early hours … and the city’s mayor was there to witness it all.
Geelong
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It’s 1am in the heart of Geelong’s nightclub strip on a Sunday morning. Blood runs down a man’s face and onto his hooded jumper as he sits in a divvy van after a fight.
Just metres away, in a separate incident, another man has collapsed and lies on the street. A bouncer, revellers and officers come to his aid before an ambulance is called.
Flashing lights, police radios, the bright blue latex gloves emergency workers wear to protect themselves, fake IDs, rowdy chatter, laughter and jeers from queuing clubbers – it’s just another weekend in the city’s party zone.
But among the uniforms and the flashy sneakers and high heels is an unlikely figure, Geelong’s mayor Stretch Kontelj.
The mayor – and the Addy – have joined the men and women in blue on a ride-along to see what happens at the coalface and the experience reiterates to Mr Kontelj just how crucial a strong police presence is for Geelong’s night-life scene.
“As a parent, I really appreciate the fact the police are walking around, keeping an eye on what’s going on,” Mr Kontelj said.
And there’s not much those eyes seem to miss, with police and paramedics on scene in James St on Sunday within minutes.
When the scuffle between two men broke out, officers raced from tending to the collapsed clubber to intervene, and were soon joined by additional police.
Shortly afterwards, an ambulance arrived for the man lying outside Bam Bam bar. He was taken to Geelong hospital in a stable condition after being treated for a medical condition.
Inspector Matt Trask, Victoria Police’s tasking and co-ordination manager for Geelong, is in charge of an area that stretches from St Leonards to Apollo Bay.
Inspector Trask said the police worked in partnership with City Hall and local traders to ensure Geelong was a “great place to come out and enjoy yourself”.
He said proactive engagement and having a visible police presence had a positive impact on patrons’ experiences.
“We’ve seen a significant decrease in serious assaults that occur within the licenced precinct,” he said.
Every Friday and Saturday night, Victoria Police deploys a dedicated unit to patrol Geelong’s CBD, with other officers in surrounding areas able to respond to calls if necessary.
Officers on the ground are supported by information from the Divisional Intelligence Unit.
“That way we can task our members to really focus and be present in those areas to try and address any potential issues,” Inspector Trask said.
Sergeant Andrew Harris of the Geelong liquor licensing unit is well-versed in policing Geelong’s night-life and was among those who raced to intervene in the scuffle as it threatened to turn ugly.
As they stepped in, one of the men became belligerent and ended up being cuffed and arrested.
Police took the man’s details before he was released and sent home with his mates.
Sergeant Harris said the man would be issued with a ticket for riotous behaviour, and the Addy confirmed he subsequently received a criminal infringement notice.
Sergeant Harris noted the arrival of extra police on the scene was due to the fight being picked up on one of the CBD’s many security cameras – Geelong’s Safe City camera network – rather than the officers themselves calling it in.
“I had my hands full at the time,” he quipped.
Inspector Trask said the way officers were able to swiftly put an end to the fight showed the importance of a police presence in maintaining public safety, as the conflict could have escalated quickly.
“It’s all about being in the right place at the right time,” Inspector Trask said.
The consequences could have been far worse, such as was the case in other violent incidents in the popular night-life sector including a bikie bashing in Manhattan Bar, or the death of popular Corio barber, Jayme Sykes on Little Malop St.
Sergeant Harris took Mr Kontelj on patrol in a divisional van, as well as on foot.
He explained corridors such as Little Malop and James streets could quickly become busy as some venues closed and emptied out and waves of taxis and Uber drivers came through for lifts and pick-ups.
Congestion on the one-way streets was raised as a potential issue during the night, as the ambulance worked its way around the bend.
Mr Kontelj said he regularly met with the police in his role as mayor, and he jumped at the chance to join officers on the ground to see what the issues were.
“Things like lighting, positioning of CCTV cameras and where we need more resources,” Mr Kontelj said.
After the fight, Mr Kontelj noted that a particular security camera on the corner of James St and Little Malop streets had only recently been installed following discussions between City Hall and the police.
For the officers on the ground, it was all in a night’s work as the venues shut and the crowds moved on … until the strip comes to life again later in the week.
Originally published as On the beat: Mayor Stretch Kontelj joins police patrolling Geelong’s party strip on Little Malop and James St
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