As the Surf Coast prepares for this years influx of school-leavers police are giving them high marks for their behaviour while in the region.
Acting Inspector Paul Matheson says an expanded police presence will greet schoolies when they arrive in hotspots like Lorne and Torquay, but he’s not overly concerned about an increase in anti-social incidents resulting from their presence.
“Behaviour is getting better over the years, I think young people are getting more and more responsible,” he said in Torquay.
“They self manage, which is a lot different to say 10, 15, 20 years ago.”
“Our message to general public is let the schoolies have fun, especially older people, stay away from the schoolies they just want to have fun.”
Police say reveler numbers are likely to be well down on previous years, as much as 30 per cent, with many booking interstate and overseas holiday celebrations that were unattainable to their older peers during the pandemic.
The mounted unit will form a visible presence of the Victoria Police delegation in the region, which will remain in elevated numbers in the region over the busy summer months.
