Victoria Police helping Victorians celebrate summer safely

This summer, Victoria Police wants to see each and every Victorian out and about enjoying the best coastal areas our state has to offer but above all, we want to see people enjoying summer safely.

From the start of November until the end of March 2022, Operation Summersafe will see police have a highly visible presence on Victoria’s foreshores, from The Great Ocean Road through to the Mornington Peninsula.

Residents and visitors to these areas can expect to see police proactively patrolling busy locations including the beaches, parks, shopping and entertainment districts and nearby public transport hubs.

Patrols will include local police supported by state-based specialist resources including the Mounted Branch, Water Police, Public Order Response Team, and the Transit Safety Division.

As always, our approach will be 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 that 2021 has been another difficult year and many Victorians will celebrate the warmer months responsibly and drink in moderation, some without even drinking at all, however there are always 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.

Highway patrol officers will continue to monitor local areas and adapt their operations and general patrols to target reckless driver behaviour. Road policing operations will continue to target speeding, impaired driving, and driver distraction.

With travel restrictions now lifted, police remind all drivers to keep road safety front of mind, be patient and exercise caution on the road to ensure everyone gets home safely.

Visitors to our coastal areas are reminded to respect the communities they are visiting, including being mindful of noise levels.

To report any suspicious behaviour call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, in an emergency always call Triple Zero (000).

Quotes attributed to Acting Superintendent Sharon McCrory:

“This summer, we want to see all Victorians out and about enjoying our state’s coastal areas after a really difficult year for everyone. We’ll be there side-by-side with the community to ensure everyone enjoys summer safely.”

“Every Victorian has overcome yet another challenging year and police want every member of our community to have the opportunity to celebrate safely surrounded by friends, family and loved ones.”

“Our message to anyone impacting other’s celebrations in the warmer months is simple – we will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour. Respect the community you are in, respect the local residents, and, most importantly, respect the safety of others around you.”