Police praise behaviour as New Year’s Eve revellers welcome 2024 in style on foreshore

Great Southern police have praised the community’s behaviour across New Year’s celebrations as the region said goodbye to 2023 and welcomed in 2024 with a bang. Police responded to 46 incidents in Albany on Sunday, including family violence, disturbances, noise complaints and welfare checks. One arrest was made in Albany and 13 move-on notices were issued as thousands packed out Anzac Peace Park for the city’s major event. Across the Great Southern district, there were 11 arrests during the New Year’s Eve period. Officer-in-charge Senior Sgt Carlos Correia said the Great Southern community was generally well-behaved on Sunday night. “They were very good; the kids were generally speaking very well-behaved and there were respectable people and kids to deal with,” he said. “Credit to parents for having looked after the kids that when spoken to were understanding and respectful and listened to what police said.” He said the visibility of police at celebrations and around town “obviously worked”. “Families enjoyed the fireworks in Albany at nine o’clock and then those who continued on to party did so without too many issues,” Sen. Sgt Correia said. “A couple of move-on notices were issued, a couple of people were street-drinking or received cautions. “The nightclub was OK; there were no issues there, people at the nightclub did the right thing. “The perk of working and getting around and being visible obviously worked, and people were able to see that there were police around and limited opportunities to stuff up.”