High Visibility Policing carried out in Ballina, Lennox, Alstonville
Over the previous two weekends, police from the Richmond Local Area Command participated in Operation Vikings, a High Visibility Policing Operation carried out in Ballina, Lennox Head and Alstonville.
“During this period additional General Duties, Operations Support Group and Highway Patrol Police were deployed in phases to each township,” Ballina Duty Officer Greg Moore said.
“The focus of the operation was for periods of high-visibility policing in each town during identified trouble periods.
“The targeted police response included beats, mobile patrols, licensed premises inspections and stationary RBT.
“State Vikings funding was utilised to fund a proportion of the operation
“During the operation police received positive feedback from members of the community supportive of the high-profile proactive police presence.
“A number of volatile alcohol-related incidents were quickly defused in the CBDs during the operation, particularly in the early hours of the morning.”
The following is a break-down of statistical results for the operation:
12 x arrests, 13 charges (offences included Offensive Conduct, Possess Prohibited Drug (cannabis), Driving with a Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol , Hinder Police, Resist Arrest), 11 x move-on directions, 1 x knife search, 24 infringement notices, 12 licensed premises inspections, 200 Random Breath Tests, 1 defect notice and 1 recovered stolen motor vehicle.
Police said an analysis of the general crime rates in the three townships over the period of the operation indicated the volume of offences to be well down on similar reporting periods.
Analysis of the results of this operation and ongoing monitoring of reported crime and relevant intelligence will assist in the planning of future operations in this sector, police said.
