POLICE were out in force at the weekend to help everyone get off to a safe start these holidays.
Police hit the region’s night spots on Hastings Street and Reef Street on Friday and Saturday as part of a liquor and public order operation.
As a result, two venues were charged with liquor licence offences including failing to comply with the conditions of a liquor licence for one venue, while the other venue was charged with allowing consumption of alcohol after hours.
In the streets, six people were charged with public nuisance, two for urinating in public, one person was charged with obstructing police, two adults were charged for drinking alcohol in a public place and one minor was charged for drinking alcohol.
There was also a swag of drug offences including producing, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs, plus two people were charged with obstructing police and one person for disobeying a move-on order.
Police conducted 150 random breath tests over the two nights with one person caught drink-driving and one person caught driving while under the influence of drugs.
The Tactical Crime Branch from Kawana and the Road Traffic Unit from Nambour joined with the Noosa police on Friday 16 December, from 2pm to 7pm, for a special road operation targeting drink-driving and traffic offences.
As a result, 845 random breath tests were performed with five people caught drink-driving.
There was a list of other offences including 17 drivers caught speeding, one drive was fined for driving an unregistered vehicle, another driver was caught driving without a licence and one learner driver was caught driving unaccompanied.
Noosa Heads officer in charge Senior Sergeant Steve McReight said one “pleasing” result from the weekend was a significant decline in reported domestic violence incidents.
Last weekend police received eight call-outs for domestic violence, but this weekend they received one.
“I would prefer for there to be none,” Sen Sgt McReight said. “But, I live in the real world and this was definitely pleasing.”
Sen Sgt McReight said residents and visitors could rest assured knowing police would be on local roads throughout the festive season.
“We wish all your readers a very merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year,” he said.
“Have fun, but make sure your fun doesn’t impact or impede others. A perfect New Year for us is when we have no jobs to go to.”
The Noosa Heads Police Station will remain manned throughout the festive season, but the front deck will be closed on public holidays. When the front desk is closed, residents can all Policelink on 131 444 or use the blue phone at the front of the station. In the case of emergency, phone triple-zero.
