By Laura Michell
Drink drivers and other motorists flouting the road rules have been caught out by police after a two-month operation focusing on Whittlesea’s licensed venues.
Whittlesea police ran late night operations in June and July to coincide with the soccer World Cup and the opening of new licensed venues across the municipality.
In a message posted on Victoria Police’s Whittlesea Eyewatch Facebook page, Whittlesea Inspector Andrew Falconer said police made more than 50 visits to licensed premises, some of which had extended hours for the World Cup.
Three people were caught drink driving, while police issued nine penalty notices for driving offences committed while leaving licensed venues and surrounding areas.
Inspector Falconer said police also carried out patrols in the community, targeting people breaking into and stealing cars or committing burglaries.
“We arrested 31 offenders for various crime and drug-related offences [who] will be put before the courts,” he said.
“With a recent increase of police officers arriving and working in the area, future ongoing operations are planned to target the offences of most concern to our local community.”
