POLICE will patrol Kingston beaches over summer in an all-terrain vehicle thanks to financial backing from Kingston Council, Bendigo Bank and the Mordialloc Rotary Club.
Troublemakers may face the long reach of the law on beaches.
“It’s an important part of our foreshore and we’ve got to make sure it’s safe,” Cr Geoff Gledhill said.
“These little vehicles are really effective at getting into places [instead of] a patrol car pulling up at a carpark and having officers trudge down the sand.”
Kingston Local Area Commander, Inspector Bruce Wemyss, welcomed the council decision to contribute funding.
“These vehicles ensure police have mobile access to our beachfronts through the warmer weather. The visible presence of the vehicle on the sand assists us in preventing and detecting crime and deterring anti-social behaviour providing a point of contact for those on the sand.
“The vehicle is also very manoeuvrable meaning that it can get from point to point effectively and move into areas that may not be accessible by a standard police vehicle.”
The Parkdale branch of Bendigo Bank will contribute $5000 to buy the police buggy, Kingston Council will make a $5000 contribution and Mordialloc Rotary will chip in $2000.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 2 December 2015
