REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21, 1987

POLICE on the Gold Coast pushed for around-the-clock foot patrols in a bid to curb the growing violence and drunkenness on the streets and halt a spate of thefts and break-ins.

Gold Coast police Superintendent Don Teague said a submission had gone to the Police Department requesting additional uniformed police for the district.

“The department is considering a proposal for additional uniformed staffing in Surfers Paradise to make people available to increase foot patrols,” he said.

“We run foot patrols now. The recommendation to the department that we get provided with staff to run foot patrols 24 hours a day.”

At the time police patrolled Surfers Paradise streets on “busy nights” until 2am and on Sundays from 10am until 6pm, or when staffing levels permitted.

During the Christmas-New Year period additional police from Brisbane regularly patrolled the Surfers area cracking down on street offences – including drunkenness, disorderly behaviour, abusive language and indecent behaviour.

Special patrols were also set up to deal with street offences in Surfers Paradise and problem areas.

The recommendation for extra police followed meetings between the Superintendent, Member for Surfers Paradise Rob Borbidge and a representative for the Surfers Paradise business community.

Meanwhile, Davy Jones and Peter Tork from the Monkees arrived on the Gold Coast to play Twin Towns.