POLICE have launched a high-visibility operation for the Bathurst 1000 to ensure race enthusiasts enjoy the event safely.
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Operation Coulton was launched yesterday to ensure the safety and security of more than 200,000 people expected to descend on Mount Panorama, including competitors, officials and spectators.
General duties police attached to Chifley Local Area Command and across the Western Region will be assisted by specialist officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Dog Unit, PolAir, licensing police, Bicycle Unit, Youth Command, Police Transport Command and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command throughout the operation.
Operation Coulton Commander, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, was joined by Bathurst mayor Gary Rush and V8 Supercars chief operating officer Shane Howard to officially launch the operation.
“Police will be out in force throughout the four-day event, focusing on road safety and crowd behaviour, and minimising the impact of the event on the local community,” Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
He said the race had shifted in recent years to being a much more family-friendly event, and police had been working closely with event organisers and other agencies to ensure that trend continued.
Despite this, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said there were some who drank to excess and tried to spoil the event for others.
Subsequently, strict alcohol restrictions are in place at the entrance to the Mount, and will remain enforced until the end of the event.
Each adult will be restricted to bringing one of the following items into the event each day, which will be enforced by police and event security:
- One carton of full strength beer or full strength pre-mixed drinks in cans only (24 cans);
- One carton of mid-strength beer (30 cans);
- One cask of wine (up to four litres);
- One bottle of spirits (750ml – plastic bottle only);
- Glass is also strictly prohibited from the campgrounds, which includes jars.
There are also 100 highway patrol officers in the region given the specific task to keep the roads safe and incident free, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
“They will be working around the clock to ensure everyone’s safety,” he said.