More than 50 charges laid in South Coast police blitz

Police say they will conduct regular patrols of tourist towns during summer. Photo: File.

More than 50 charges have been laid during a police blitz targeting drink driving, and drug and weapon possession on the South Coast over the weekend.

Officers coordinated a high visibility operation across the South Coast between Thursday, 10 December and Saturday, 12 December in the towns between Nowra and Batemans Bay.

Almost 500 random breath tests and 271 random drug tests were conducted, with four charges laid for drink driving across the three days.

Fifty-one charges were also laid for offences including drug and weapon possession, failing to leave licensed premises and other traffic-related incidents.

Southern region operations manager Detective Superintendent Kevin McNeil said police will continue to conduct regular patrols of tourist towns during summer.

“We have paid particular attention to our coastal towns in recent weeks, with the influx of visitors and the weather warming up,” Detective Superintendent McNeil said.

“We know people are keen to support our regional towns, particularly those that were affected by bushfires, but I cannot stress enough how important it is that people do so safely.

“The public needs to adhere to venues’ COVID-19 safety plans, ensure they are physically distancing and comply with the rules set by the NSW Government,” Detective Superintendent McNeil said.

“We are also continuing to focus on safe driver behaviour and making sure people get from A to B safely.”

Road safety will continue to be a focus of the summer operation, with traffic and highway officers assisting police with targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, driving while fatigued, mobile phone and other traffic offences.

Operation Summer Safe is a high-visibility operation that will be in place for the duration of summer 2020/2021 throughout regional NSW, focusing on policing licensed premises, public spaces and entertainment precincts in an effort to decrease anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related violence while also ensuring adherence to the current COVID-19 public health orders.