Crime drops as police target hot spots

POLICE chiefs focused the region’s resources on holiday areas over summer in a move they believe led to a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour.
Although Victoria Police continued to run Operation Sarazan in Greater Dandenong, the other main focus in Police Region Five involved holiday hotspots.
In December Victoria Police announced a state-wide summer blitz of licensed premises, turning their attention to venues in the Frankston CBD, Mornington Peninsula, Cowes, Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale and Traralgon.
The visible police presence saw assaults in Frankston drop by 32.5 per cent compared to January.
Assaults in Bass Coast dropped 47.2 per cent, with the Wellington, East Gippsland and Mornington Peninsula areas recording decreases of 40.5 per cent, 67.2 per cent and 34.2 per cent respectively.
The summer blitz crackdown involved police visiting licensed premises, including pubs, nightclubs and bottleshops, to ensure they were operating in accordance with the Liquor Control Reform Act and that no illegal or inappropriate behaviour was occurring. Acting Region Five Assistant Commissioner Emmett Dunne said police had worked hard over the summer months to reduce assaults, property damage offences and anti-social behaviour.
“It is pleasing to see Operation Summer Blitz led to a notable decrease in assaults, property damage and anti-social offences when compared to the same time last year,” Mr Dunne said.