By PAUL MILLAR
POLICE will conduct an ongoing crackdown on known crime hotspots in the region over summer after a 24-hour blitz on central Geelong this week.
In a show of force, police were out in numbers in a bid to regain the confidence of shop owners and to “reconnect” with troubled youngsters on the city streets.
Police flooded the city centre and surrounding roads in a high-visibility initiative codenamed Operation City Safe.
Officers from local stations pooled resources and also hit the skate park area of Waurn Ponds and Corio Shopping Centre.
Geelong police Senior Sergeant Aaron Riches said five individuals had been caught driving while disqualified and five vehicles were found to be unregistered.
Three people were fined $300 under local by-laws for being in possession of open alcohol containers.
Sen Sgt Riches said the operation was a success, with police going out of their way to establish contact with some of the city’s troubled youths.
Police directed up to 20 people to referral and support services, he said.
“We are already planning our next operation for the summer months.”
Sen Sgt Riches said police would increase their mobility during the next crackdown.
“We’ll have bike patrols over the summer, which will give us more breadth in areas like the hospital car parks and on bayside frontage.”
Police said building inspectors were called to a home in Vines Road yesterday morning after an elderly woman reversed her vehicle into her Hamlyn Heights home.
