- Published:
- Monday 30 December 2019
Victoria Police will have a heavy presence at New Year’s Eve hotspots in Melbourne and across Victoria as crowds prepare to ring in 2020.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville today joined Victoria Police, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Ambulance Victoria, Public Transport Victoria and the City of Melbourne to call for Victorians to celebrate New Year’s Eve safely.
Around 400,000 people are expected to flock to Melbourne’s CBD to watch fireworks light up the skyline during the two displays at 9.30pm and midnight.
The City of Melbourne will operate four live sites on New Year’s Eve at Kings Domain, Docklands, Treasury Gardens and Flagstaff Gardens, where entertainment and facilities will be available.
Uniform and plain clothes police will be carrying out extra patrols throughout the night, targeting anti-social behaviour, violence and drink and drug driving.
Police will be using specialist squads where needed, including the water police, mounted branch, operations response unit, public order response team and air wing.
Transit police and Protective Services Officers will be deployed on trains, at train stations around Melbourne and at key regional hubs to ensure everyone gets to and from their destination safely.
Emergency services will be on alert across locations in Melbourne, regional towns and coastal areas.
Police in marked and unmarked vehicles will also be out on Victoria’s roads as part of Operation Roadwise, targeting motorists who are drug and alcohol affected, speeding, driving dangerously, on their phones or distracted.
The Andrews Labor Government has provided $52.5 million for CBD security upgrades at key sites including Olympic Boulevard, Southbank Promenade and the State Library and funded purpose-built mobile forensic labs to ensure rapid deployment in the event of a terrorism incident.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville
“We want all Victorians to enjoy New Year’s Eve and celebrate safely and responsibly with their friends and loved ones.”
“Police will have a highly visible presence throughout the CBD and party hotspots – targeting those who try to ruin the celebrations of others with anti-social or violent behaviour.”
“We won’t tolerate violence against our dedicated and hardworking emergency service workers who are out there keeping us safe.”