A pending influx of holidaymakers has prompted police to launch a campaign targeting “community safety” on the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast.
Geelong Police announced Operation Summer Safe on their Eyewatch Facebook page this week, with the initiative to have an emphasis on sharing safety messages through social media.
The operation covered all of Victoria Police’s Western Region Division 1, which includes Geelong and Colac, but had a focus on the region’s coastal holiday hot spots, police explained on Eyewatch.
The operation anticipated around 167,000 visitors along the coast during the peak summer holiday period between Christmas and the new year, police said.
“Over the summer period from late December to end of January, the population of the coastal area increases by approximately 150,000 people who are attracted the beach side locations along the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast areas,” police said.
“A further increase of approximately 17000 people occurs from the 28th December to 31st when the Falls Festival is conducted within the Lorne Response Zone.”
Police said Operation Summer Safe would guide operations “with a focus to enhance Western Region Division 1’s internal web of protection to maximise community safety during the peak summer period”.
“It aims to develop an intelligence led and evidence based policing model over the summer period that will enhance police capability to address key themes such as public order, emergency management, road policing, events and unplanned high-risk scenarios.
“Through Eyewatch and police members from the Community Engagement Unit, proactive community safety messaging will also be shared. The Eyewatch community will also be updated regularly on policing activity being conducted as part of Operation Summer Safe.”
