- Queensland Police Service praise behaviour of Schoolies 2023 cohort
- Gold Coast City Council partnering with police to keep watch on the streets with over 180 safety cameras rolling.
- Three knives located as part of police wanding operations.
Queensland Police have praised the behaviour of this year’s Schoolies on the Gold Coast with a low number of offences detected as safety operations continue.
A high police presence and positive engagements through support agencies has played an important role in keeping school leavers safe during the official week of activities which commenced on Saturday.
Ten school-leavers have been arrested this year, compared to 40 at the same time in the week as last year.
Adding an extra layer of security is a strong partnership between the Queensland Police Service and Gold Coast City Council through the Safety Camera Network.
With over 180 cameras in the Surfers Paradise precinct, police are keeping a watchful eye over the schoolies from the Joint Emergency Service Command Centre (JESCC) in Surfers Paradise.
Police have also conducted wanding operations throughout the Safe Night Precinct and on public transport infrastructure to detect anyone carrying knives or weapons in public spaces.
Since Friday, November 17, 401 people have been scanned for weapons in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach with three knives seized.
Quotes attributed to Minister Mark Ryan
“The government recognises the right of passage for the school leavers and the importance of providing a safe environment for them to celebrate with their friends.
“It is a credit not only to schoolies, but the whole of government safety response including volunteers and partner agencies, who over the past 20 years, have planned and work hard to make this one of the safest celebrations in the nation.
“This partnership with the Gold Coast City Council is one of many partnerships with government replicated throughout the safety response and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to continuing to provide a safe environment for schoolies to celebrate.”
Quotes attributed to Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate
“Our safety camera network is world-class.
“Through partnerships with Queensland Police and other agencies, we are keeping locals safe, deterring criminal activity and showcasing our city to the world.
“We will continue to expand our network with funding for more mobile devices as well as camouflage cameras to capture hooning or illegal dumping in known hot spots across the coast.”
Superintendent Peter Miles, Gold Coast Police
“We have been exceptionally impressed with this year’s co-hort of school leavers celebrating on the Gold Coast with very low number of arrests and mostly only minor offences detected.
“Police work really closely with our partner agencies including Gold Coast City Council, Safer Schoolies and a range of support agencies to ensure Schoolies are kept safe.
“I encourage all schoolies to continue celebrating safely and look out for each other for the remainder of the event.”
