POLICE are confident that efforts to avert a repeat of New Year’s Eve 2004 have paid off to the extent that families have been able to reclaim the night in Ocean Grove.
In the last four years police have partnered with council, Barwon Coast and affected business to put in place measures to stamp out drunken behavior – and ensure there is no repeat of the riot that took place around Main Beach in the lead up to 2005.
That year teenagers were bashed on the Esplanade and had to take refuge in the nearby Wynndean Caravan Park. Police admit they were wholly under resourced and unable to cope that night.
Since then leading stakeholders have worked out a pact to combat violence, under-age drinking and sleeping in cars as well as increasing police presence in a bid to emphasise the family aspects of the night and actively promote an alcohol free night.
Last year only one arrest was made and the partners hailed the measures a major success.
However, Bellarine’s top cop Senior Sergeant Gary Coombes adds that his team is far from complacent and will have ‘substantial’ additional manpower drafted in from the Melbourne and Geelong suburbs that could handle unexpected issues.
“Last year was the best year we’ve had for a long time,” said Snr Sgt Coombes. “We were down to a single arrest. We are hoping that this year is going to be similar.
“The strategies we have employed along with other stakeholders have paid off in reducing the amount of alcohol related incidences.
“We were well on top of alcohol related issues at the beach last year and that obviously paid dividends.
“When I first arrived (at Bellarine Police Station) in ‘04-‘05 we had serious issues. “
“I am confident with our planning but nowhere near complacent about it. You never know what could happen,” he said. I am very happy with the (staff) numbers. We certainly have significant resources to address any offences on the night.”
Snr Sgt Coombes said that the issues were clear to the stakeholders who “know what needs to be done”. To that extent the group only needs to meet a couple of times a year now as opposed to every month.
“The first year that I got here it was a bit overawing that we got down there by 10.30pm and there were kids everywhere and drink everywhere. Because of the sheer amount of alcohol we were overwhelmed by it.
“I am quite confident that we are now in a much better position to take proper action with it,” he said.
Among the measures taken are the reduction of vehicle access to the beach and lighting up any dark areas at the beach car park.
“We block off the access roads to the beach, limiting the amount of vehicle traffic, and thereby limiting the amount of alcohol that can be brought in.
“We have also increased lighting around the beach car park to improve safety. There are certainly areas that were dark. It was harder to police. I am very confident that the extent of the lighting in the car park is now adequate.
He said that policing the night actually starts in the day with high visibility bike patrols addressing issues early, and long before they get a chance to get a hold.
“Now we have got a model that works and we know wht needs to be done. The strategies that we have put in place seem to work.”
‘We have seen a transformation to a more family orientated night in Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads where people can feel less intimidated by some that are alcohol affected.
“That’s not to say we haven’t had problems but we do we know how to deal with them.
“A few years ago there was a group that came and we knew what they were there for. We can quickly spot any likely problems. Drunken behaviour is not going to be tolerated.
“We are still looking at significant police on duty, on foot, in vehicles during day and night. We are going to cover the whole gambit. Not just on the beach, random breath testing sites all across the Bellarine.
What we are about is providing people with a safe new year’s eve. It’s not about curtailing fun. It’s about not having it ruined by the conduct of a few.
Snr Sgt Coombes also explained that part of the strategy is also to eliminate glass and the injury and litter problems associated with it.
They have drawn up posters and have gained support from local licensees restricting the sale of alcohol in glass containers.
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