AUTHORITIES were yesterday making no apologies for the police presence in Bathurst over the race weekend, saying the high profile measures paid dividends in keeping the community safe.
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Contacted by the Western Advocate following a complaint by Farmer’s Arms publican Dale Stapleton, Chifley local area commander Superintendent Michael Robinson said officers do everything they can to work with licensees but, at the end of the day, said police were the regulatory authority in relation to licensed premises.
“Our primary aim is to work with licensees and ensure Bathurst remains a safe place for visitors and local people over Race Week,” Supt Robinson said, adding a lot of work goes into planning the event through the Bathurst Liquor Accord.
Responding to claims that 35 police and the riot squad remained out the front of the Farmer’s Arms for at least four hours, Supt Robinson said every licensed premises was visited by police in a monitoring role over the weekend.
“The riot squad were part of the operation and patrolled the whole town,” he said.
While refusing to go into detail, Supt Robinson said “there was an issue at the Farmer’s Arms” where police attempted to work with the licensee – a claim rejected by Mr Stapleton and licensee Carolyn Glazebrook.
“And if there is an issue, we deal with it. It’s that simple,” Supt Robinson said.
Supt Robinson said ensuring public safety over the race weekend was a fine balance, and said a number of disappointing incidents (unrelated to the Farmer’s Arms) occurred over the weekend.
On Saturday night, a licensing officer was allegedly assaulted by a staff member inside a local hotel.
“As a result, a 44-year-old Bathurst man has been issued with a Court Attendance Notice, and will appear before Bathurst Local Court on November 4,” he said.
Supt Robinson said there were an additional 250 police in town for the Great Race.
