Police take no-tolerance approach

With New Year less than a week away, Rockingham police have warned the public there will be a no-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour and violence.

Rockingham Acting Senior Sergeant Lance Sloan said extra police resources would be in place during the day.

He said police activity would start on the morning of December 31.

Acting Sen. Sgt Sloan said the no-drinking policy would be enforced and he urged residents to either drink at home or in licensed premises.

“The Rockingham foreshore festivities are promoted as family-friendly and nobody will be exempt from the $200 on-the-spot fine if found consuming alcohol in a public place,” he said.

“Our resources will be stretched, so the public needs to be made aware call-outs will be prioritised and we won’t be investigating noise complaints at 10pm.”

He said he hoped that the public would be more tolerant regarding noise for the one night of the year.

Acting Sen. Sgt Sloan said New Year’s Eve parties were also of concern to the police and each year posed a problem.

“Party registration is something we would really like to emphasise,” he said.

“We want people to register as soon as possible, so that on the night we can respond immediately if people are in need of our assistance.”

He said police needed to know where the parties were so they could keep an eye on them, along with the other festivities taking place.

“If we know about them, our response times will be quicker and we can better prepare for the night,” he said.

Taskforces will be dedicated specifically to the registered parties.

Acting Sen. Sgt Sloan said they could be registered by visiting www.police.wa.gov.au.

He said people should have a good time but also act responsibly.

“It’s always the few who ruin it for the rest,” Sen. Sgt Sloan said.