RACE fans pouring into the city have been warned to play by the rules or face the consequences as police yesterday launched the high visibility Operation Lenton.
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Police are expecting 200,000 people on the mountain, including competitors, officials, spectators and race enthusiasts, and said it was their job to ensure everyone remained safe during the event.
An additional 250 officers will be joining those attached to Chifley Local Area Command, and all will be out in force from today until late Sunday.
The operation will involve officers from Chifley Local Area Command and across the Western Region, assisted by officers attached to the Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Dog Unit, PolAir, Licensing, Bicycle Unit, Youth Command, Police Transport Command and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.
The focus will be road safety and crowd behaviour, and minimising the impact of the event on the Bathurst community.
“This is the greatest motorsport event in Australia and for some it is a pilgrimage that they make every year. We want everyone to have a good time, but not at the expense of other people’s safety,” Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
“In recent years, the race has become a more family-friendly event, and police have been working with event organisers to ensure that continues.
“Unfortunately, there is still a small minority in the crowd that drink to excess and ruin it for others. This is why there is a strong police presence and strict alcohol restrictions in place.”
Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said each adult will be restricted to bringing one of the following items into the event each day:
* One carton of full-strength beer or full-strength premixed drinks in cans only (24 cans), or
* One block (36 cans of light or mid-strength beer, 3.5pc alcohol content or less), or
* One cask of wine (up to four litres), or
* One bottle of spirits (750mL – plastic bottle).
These restrictions will be enforced by police and event security who, with the assistance of drug-detection dogs, will be conducting vehicle searches as racegoers enter the grounds.
“Anyone thinking of bringing and using drugs onto the mountain can expect to be arrested, charged, and immediately ejected from the venue or refused entry,” Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
“In fact, we will take the same approach to anyone caught breaking the law or behaving badly, dangerously or disturbing other racegoers.”
Regarding Australia’s recent security upgrade in the light of terrorist activities, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said police would remain vigilant.
He said as part of the heightened security, low flying planes will be seen over Bathurst, but residents do not need to be alarmed.
Additional traffic and highway patrol officers will be deployed across the weekend to ensure racegoers and other motorists make it to and from their destinations safely.
