Operation Whiskey Legion boosts blue line across Gold Coast

The Gold Coast has been saturated with extra police as part of a crime crackdown following community safety concerns and a frightening home invasion this week. How police are responding.

Gold Coast police have launched a crime crackdown in the wake of growing community safety concerns and a “traumatic” home invasion on Monday.

The region has been saturated with additional officers as part of Operation Whiskey Legion – a high visibility blitz targeting known crime hotspots and high-risk offenders.

“We will be doing a range of operations across the week ranging from traffic operations, public safety operations in high usage areas such as railway stations and light rail stops,” Acting Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Peter Miles said.

“From as far north as Jacobs Well and Pimpama, all the way down to Coolangatta so our district is going to be well policed.

“It’s not to alarm members of the public, you will see a lot of police out and about – come up and say g’day. Our officers love that type of engagement.”

Operation Whiskey Legion returns to the Gold Coast. Photo: QPS.

During the operation’s first deployment to the Gold Coast in April last year 231 people were arrested over 10 days on 532 charges including 39 juveniles on 97 offences.

This time round it will be a shorter and more targeted stint – 7 days – wrapping up by the middle of next week.

“Seven (days) is probably more of a sweet spot – get in, get out,” Chief Supt Miles said.

“It’s all about keeping the community safe and more importantly an opportunity to engage with the community. From the perspective of being a victim of crime we can reduce that and make people feel safer in their homes.”

The boost to the blue line comes at a time when community crime and safety concerns are heightened. A recent survey by Gold Coast City Council found Surfers Paradise is seen as a crime “hot spot”, younger resident between 18 to 29-year-olds reported feeling less safe overall and women of all ages didn’t feel safe walking the city’s streets alone. Community concerns are also increasing over antisocial behaviour and violence at the new party paradise of Burleigh Heads, with local businesses saying safety fears were driving customers and residents away.

Plain clothes detectives return to the scene of a frightening home invasion at Ashmore. Picture: Supplied.

Youth crime worries were also reignited again on Monday after a violent home invasion in which a gang of up to five balaclava-wearing thieves stormed an Ashmore home. One of the residents, a 53-year-old woman, was injured in the incident – dragged along the street while trying to stop one of the offenders from stealing a car.

“We’re pretty certain we’ll have people in custody for that offence (soon),” Chief Supt Miles said.
“It would have been a very traumatic situation for that homeowner. You’re at home and you have people come into your castle, it’s not ideal and certainly something where we want to get those offenders into custody as soon as we can.
“This is not the crime of a kid that’s been convicted of one shoplifting – they’re seasoned criminals.”

Chief Supt Miles said detectives were actively pursuing suspects over the incident and were hopeful of resolving the matter soon.

Originally published as Operation Whiskey Legion boosts blue line across Gold Coast