Officers from the Mornington Peninsula Police Service Area as well as the Water Police Squad conducted a three-day operation over the recent long weekend focusing on water safety, marine compliance and public order.
Operation Unity across the Mornington Peninsula foreshore precincts came on the back of several weeks of increased serious marine related incidents in the waters extending from Mount Martha to Portsea.
Police were supported by other government and volunteer agencies.
Over the course of the operation 588 offences were detected on the waters and foreshore precinct with 66 infringement notices issued to personal watercraft and boat operators about half of which related to speeding or irregular operation within 5 knot zones.
Quotes attributable to Rosebud Police A/Sergeant Flyn Loughlin:
"The fact that we had no marine related injuries or collisions between vessels over the course of the three days means that it was a successful operation.
I think that's attributable to the fact that there was a highly visible presence of police on the water particularly down the southern end of Port Phillip and right across our peninsula foreshore precincts.
We also had a highly visible police presence on land right across our foreshore precincts.
The operation was strongly supported by other government and volunteer agencies.
We won't tolerate poor behaviour that jeopardises the safety of other water users."
