By Abbey Cannan
Noosa Police are preparing for a busy holiday period, with calls for service set to double as they stretch resources between Hastings Street and Noosa North Shore.
The station averages 160 jobs a week, and from now until the end of January they expect to be receiving 250 to 300 calls for service a week.
They will be cracking down on late night trading, with a zero tolerance policy to excess alcohol consumption and violent behaviour in Hastings St, Noosa Police acting senior sergeant Troy Cavell said.
“With borders opening up, Noosa will be running at 100 per cent until after Australia Day,” he said.
“We’re issuing police banning notices for Hastings St to anyone who is involved in any sort of violent behaviour there.
“This means they are banned from attending Hastings St precincts with a licensed premises for a period of three months.”
This follows a string of recent assaults around Noosa Heads, including an incident where two men became involved in five separate assaults within a 20 minute period at 2am on 21 November.
“The two men have been charged with multiple assaults and grievous bodily harm,” Senior Sergeant Cavell said.
“One of the men, an 18-year-old, is being held in custody until the end of February for another court appearance.”
There will be extra police patrolling the licensed premises around Bay Village, including Rolling Rock, Little Sister, Laguna Jacks, and Cafe Le Monde, until 3am to combat any sort of violence.
“It’s not acceptable behaviour,” Senior Sergeant Cavell said.
“There was an increase in assaults that started 12 months ago when lockdown ended and restrictions were eased.
“Recently there has been a bit of a reduction.
“The responsible service of alcohol is the first thing we look at because nearly all of the assaults involve excess alcohol.
“We ran an operation a couple of weeks ago with the Office of Liquor and Gaming and gave out a few fines.”
Although police expect to see a rise in all areas of crime during the silly season, Noosa has seen a recent reduction in burglaries, break and enter of businesses, and stolen cars.
Senior Sergeant Cavell encouraged the community to be mindful of the extra traffic and of your neighbours during the holiday period.
“We just want to see people do the right thing, and if they do the right thing, then we don’t have to get in their way,” he said.
“Police have families that they want to get home and see during the holidays too.”
