Show of force is hailed a success

THERE was nowhere for drink drivers and property offenders to hide as dozens of police saturated suburbs to speak with more than 100 people in the latest branch of an anti-crime operation.

Results for the Stuart version of Operation Lockdown showed prevention was key, with officers intercepting 92 people on the roads and conducting 71 street checks, issuing six charges.

Four people were charged with varying traffic-related offences, including drink driving a and a traffic ticket.

Police also conducted six c curfew checks in the eighthour operation, which spanned Annandale, Wulguru a and other areas in the large p police division.

Unlike previous operations, c crews set out exclusively in police vehicles for the entire shift.

Similar crime prevention operations have seen police out on foot, riding bicycles, in buggies and on road bikes.

The latest operation was the fifth in an ongoing strategy to catch as many offenders as possible in a small window of time.

Stuart Police officer-incharge Senior Sergeant Gavin Oates said the decision to use only cars was part of varying technique trials.

Despite the low number of arrests, Sen-sgt Oates deemed the operation a success.

“It’s a positive thing as part of an ongoing effort for the disruption and interruption of offenders,” he said.

“Heavy saturation in those hot spots was important and that will continue over the coming months.”

Sen-sgt Oates said the low number of offences was consistent with trending data, but noted it was important for police to be seen even when crime rates were lower.

He reported those that were approached or arrested co-operated with police.

Sen-sgt Oates reported no break-and-enters in the Stuart Division while police were roaming the area.