City violence cut by half

Jane Emerick
Violent crime in central Geelong has fallen almost 50 per cent since police launched a campaign 10 months ago to crack down on thugs and drunks, according to one of the city’s top cops.
Geelong Police Chief Inspector Wayne Carson said violent crime was down 48 per cent and vandalism 64 per cent since the start of Operation Nightlife.
Police launched the operation after a series of violent assaults and complaints about drunken behaviour and damage in central Geelong.
More police on the beat, brawler van patrols and use of technology such as two-way radios at venues to report troublemakers and ID scanners to keep them out had been part of the operation.
Insp Carson said licensees and Geelong’s council deserved credit alongside police for the success of the operation.
“It’s been a good collaborative approach,” Insp Carson said.
A new Geelong Liquor Accord next month would introduce more measures to crack down further on crime in the city, including wider use of ID scanners, extra lighting and more closed circuit television cameras.
Insp Carson said Nightlife would be an ongoing operation.
“We’ve made the commitment to continue to run Nightlife into the foreseeable future and that’s seen as positive,” Insp Carson said.
“We’re a frontrunner with this and Melbourne’s Operation Nightlife, which started last week, is based on our model.”
However, Insp Carson conceded Geelong “still has work to be done” on after hours crime in the city area.
Insp Carson warned Geelong Cup revellers that police would be out in force on Wednesday.