As the weather begins to warm up, Victoria Police looks forward to seeing all Victorians enjoy some of the best coastal areas our state has to offer but above all, we want everyone to enjoy the summer months safely.
From now until the end of March 2023, Operation Summersafe will see a bolstered police presence across metropolitan Melbourne's most loved coastal locations including St Kilda, Half Moon Bay, Altona, and Williamstown through to the Mornington Peninsula and the Rye foreshore.
As part of the operation, residents and visitors to these areas can expect to see an increase in proactive police patrols across popular beaches and surrounding locations including parks, entertainment districts and public transport hubs.
Local police will work collaboratively with a variety of specialist resources including the Mounted Branch, Water Police, Public Order Response Team, Highway Patrol, and the Transit Safety Division.
Along with having boots on the ground where they are needed most, the Mobile Policing Unit will also be deployed in our busiest areas, serving as a central hub for police to engage with the community and also monitor any anti-social or criminal behaviour.
Police will also have access to an extensive CCTV network across our coastal locations, allowing them to share real-time information, task officers to specific locations to de-escalate incidents before they escalate and stop crime in its tracks.
Police across other popular summer destinations, including the Surf Coast and Bass Coast, also have dedicated local operations in place to ensure everyone gets home safely.
As always, our approach is centred around keeping the community safe by maintaining public order, detecting, and disrupting criminal offending and keeping our roads safe by conducting roadside drug and alcohol tests.
We know the majority of our community will do the right thing, celebrate the warmer months safely and drink responsibly. However, sadly, there will always be those who choose to take their celebrations too far by binge drinking.
Drinking to excess or taking illicit substances can contribute to alcohol-fuelled violence, risk-taking behaviour and drink or impaired driving. This behaviour is especially concerning for police as it has the potential to cause harm not only to the individual, but also to those around them.
We ask no matter where or how you choose to celebrate summer, respect the safety of those around you, respect the local community and respect the public amenities or risk facing the consequences for your actions.
To report any suspicious or anti-social behaviour, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000)
Quotes attributed to Superintendent Adrian Healy - Port Phillip and Stonnington:
"While the recent poor weather across Victoria has probably put summer to the back of the minds of some, the reality is, summer and the holiday period is just around the corner.
"Police have now flicked the switch on Operation Summersafe and our community can expect to see a strong and robust police presence across our coastal locations from now until March 2023.
Quotes attributed to Superintendent Craig Peel - Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Wyndham:
"We will not tolerate any selfish or anti-social behaviour by the few that threatens the safety of the many. If you choose to blatantly disregard the safety of our community, expect to face the consequences.
"Wherever or however, you choose to celebrate summer, we ask that you keep the safety of those around you front of mind and respect the community that you are in so that we can all celebrate summer safely."
