WA:Police warn NYE revellers to be safe

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2010
WA:Police warn NYE revellers to be safe

By Angie Raphael

PERTH, Dec 31 AAP - Perth police are warning New Year's Eve revellers to drink responsibly
and have a plan to get home safely as they see in the start of 2011.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Gary Budge said police would be out in force in Perth's
major entertainment precincts on New Year's Eve including Northbridge, Leederville, Subiaco,
Fremantle and the CBD.

He said beachside areas such as Hillarys and Scarborough would also be patrolled.

Mr Budge said there would be eight buses full of police ready to be deployed wherever
they were needed.

"We are being flexible with resourcing arrangements," he said.

"That way, if there are emerging issues or challenges we can quickly deploy officers
across the metropolitan area."

Police will also conduct regular foot patrols in the main entertainment areas such
as Northbridge, where the City of Perth is staging street entertainment.

"We will intervene at an early stage if there is any trouble," Mr Budge said.

"We will warn people to pull their head in to minimise the risk of a more serious offence
happening later on."

Mr Budge said there would be three booze buses and drug buses doing random testing
throughout the night.

He praised the Cities of Mandurah and Rockingham for making their council-run celebrations
on the water alcohol-free events.

He said it was important for revellers to avoid conflict, take care of friends who
had too many drinks and make a plan to get home safely.

"We've had 192 road deaths this year. We don't want any more tonight," he said.

It will be a warm night in Perth for New Year's Eve and the city will continue to swelter
in the heat at the start of 2011.

Many people are expected to go to the beach with the temperature forecast to reach
36 degrees on New Year's Day, before climbing to 40 degrees over the next four days.

AAP anr/ldj/jnb

KEYWORD: EVE WA

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