The city’s latest police operation, Casey Confidence, has targeted crime and anti-social behaviour throughout the municipality.A NEW police operation has swung into full gear in Casey with more than 1400 motorists breath tested and 28 arrests made.
Casey Confidence was launched on Friday, 23 September, with operation running for the past two weekends.
Police cars, foot patrols, horses and a booze bus have all been used in the operation that has targeted all manner of road offences and crime in Casey.
Police officers have targeted hotspots, both on the roads and in and around the community during the operation.
Casey District Inspector Bob Hill said police had looked at current road issues including speeding and drink-driving and would maintain a zero tolerance approach to all manner of road offences.
“We are also conducting walk-throughs at popular nightspots, and actively patrolling streets targeting anti-social behaviour and other criminal offences,” he said.
With the second weekend of ‘Casey Confidence’ completed, local police have been pleased with the figures coming in from the booze bus site with four motorists exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit, equating to a ratio of one in every 174 drivers tested being over the limit.
“So far we have conducted booze buses on evenings when we know that people are out enjoying various sporting finals and holiday functions,” he said.
“The majority of road users tested have acted responsibly and we have been pleased to send them on their way to enjoy the rest of their night.”
Police have also experienced success on the crime front with nine people caught just outside the Casey area burgling the South Vale Primary School in Noble Park.
Inspector Hill said that ‘Casey Confidence’ would continue to run in various forms throughout the year with police using saturation tactics to target flaring trouble spots in both traffic and crime.
Sixty-three local licensed premises have also been checked during the operation and Senior Sergeant Gerry Hengel of Narre Warren Police said 20 penalty notices had been handed out for speeding and other traffic offences.
Sgt Hengel said police had saturated the whole of Casey and provided a strong visible presence within the community, targeting crime and anti-social behaviour.
“We will continue to conduct operations like this in the future to ensure the public see a greater police presence in our municipality,” he said.
