Zero tolerance

By Dion Teasdale
THE Yarra Valley’s newest senior police officer has put local troublemakers on notice and warned that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.
Senior Sergeant Vin Butera said police will be conducting a series of zero-tolerance law enforcement operations across the Yarra Valley, and in and around Healesville, in the coming months.
Sen Sgt Butera, in the Yarra Valley for six months to strengthen police resources, said police would be focusing on anti-social behaviour associated with being intoxicated in public, behavioural offences and traffic and driving offences.
He said the operations would be conducted by traffic police, uniformed police from the valley’s four stations, officers from the traffic alcohol section, and include covert patrols by plain clothes police.
He said the first operation would be staged in the coming month and operations would continue on a random basis throughout the year.
“We are putting the community on notice. We will not be tolerating any anti-social behaviour anymore,” he said.
“Those people who want to disrupt the law abiding citizens of the Yarra Valley will need to look out.
“Law-abiding members of community have nothing to be concerned about, but those insisting on breaking the law, I say you should be concerned,” he said.
“We are adopting a zero-tolerance approach and offenders will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Sen Sgt Butera said while the operations would look at problem areas across the Valley area, they would also concentrate heavily on the Healesville area.
“Anyone out there who thinks they can get away with anti-social behaviour in Healesville is now on notice,” he said.
“We are well aware of trouble spots in the town, like at the Coles Express service station and around the entrance to the shopping centre, and we will be targeting these areas.”
Sen Sgt Butera said police would also be targeting traffic offences and driver behaviour in and around Healesville.
“Speeding is a big issue in the area and we will also be targeting the hoon elements in the town. We will be looking at younger drivers that are intent in being in the township late at night, driving carelessly, loitering in vehicles, and doing burn outs,” he said.
Sen Sgt Butera said the operations had been devised to address ongoing anti-social behaviour issues that are effecting all Yarra Valley communities.
“They are not new initiatives, but they are effective in saturating the area with police and minimising behavioural offences,” he said.
“Residents will notice a more visible police presence in the area.”