Police ready for influx of visitors to city this long weekend

With more than one million people expected to come to Melbourne this long weekend for the Moomba Festival and Women’s T20 World Cup Final, police are preparing to have a significant presence in and around the CBD.

Victoria Police has undertaken extensive preparation with partners including the City of Melbourne, Cricket Australia and the Melbourne Cricket Club to ensure everyone can enjoy the events being held across the CBD safely.

Victoria Police will field an all-female command post overseeing the police operation for the T20 Women’s Cricket Final, coinciding with International Women’s Day on Sunday (8 March).

The highly experienced operational policewomen will be supported by hundreds of police officers inside the ground, approximately half of which will be female.

Police will also be present and keeping the community safe at many other sporting and cultural events throughout the weekend including the A-League soccer, various AFLW games, Melbourne Fashion Festival and a music festival in Flemington.

Commander Tim Hansen will oversee the police operation in the city for the Moomba Festival over the long weekend and is expecting all events to have a positive and family-friendly atmosphere.

“Day and night there will be a strong, dedicated and consistent police presence throughout the city and surrounds,” Cmdr Hansen said.

“We know the overwhelming majority of people will be coming into the city to enjoy these events with the right attitude and intending to get home safely.

“You will notice a highly-visible police presence across the CBD and at events like Moomba and the cricket.

“Our police are there to keep you safe and we hope our presence makes you comfortable as you celebrate the long weekend.”

Frontline police will be supported by the Public Order Response Team, Critical Incident Response Team, Highway Patrol, Transit Safety Division, Mounted Branch and Water Police to prevent and deter crime.

Commander Hansen said police would step in and address any unwanted behaviour before it escalates.

“We’ll be on the lookout for any public order issues and crime right across Melbourne, including our mobile PSOs and transit police who will be at train stations, bus replacement locations and on train and tram routes.

“As always, our message to anyone thinking of coming into the city to cause trouble or commit crime is don’t bother, you will be arrested and held to account if you break the law.”

Over the long weekend, buses will replace trains on parts of five metropolitan train lines, some regional trains will be replaced by coaches and there will be various road closures due to the Moomba festivities.

Public transport users and motorists are urged to plan ahead for delays throughout the CBD this long weekend and heck the PTV website or smartphone application for further information.

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