Thousands of police officers are on duty in Victoria, Australia, to ensure public safety during New Year celebrations. Victoria Police has mobilized general duty officers and specialist units like the mounted branch, dog squad, water police, air wing, and critical incident response team (CIRT) for overnight operations. Superintendent Belinda Jones, the statewide New Year’s Eve commander, emphasized the significant police presence as a reassurance to the public, especially after a fatal mass shooting in Sydney earlier in December.
The police have meticulously planned to maintain community safety during various events across the state. In Melbourne’s central business district (CBD), where around 500,000 people are expected to gather for celebrations and fireworks displays, stringent security measures are in place. The CBD has been designated as a special area until May’s end, granting police and protective service officers the authority to conduct searches for weapons without a warrant.
Apart from Melbourne’s CBD, other areas like the city of Geelong and the St Kilda foreshore in Melbourne’s south have also been marked as designated zones for New Year’s Eve. The state government has erected 7 km of fencing in key CBD locations to manage the anticipated crowds effectively. Victorian Acting Police Minister Enver Erdogan highlighted that CIRT officers are armed and ready to respond promptly to any incidents that may arise.
