Summernats 2013 washes up

ACT Policing will be maintaining a high profile patrol presence as the large crowd attending the annual Summernats car festival begins to disperse this evening (Sunday, January 6).

The Operational Commander for the event, Acting Superintendent Rod Anderson, said that given the size of the attendance, police were generally pleased with the crowd’s behaviour.

“As expected, it has been a busy time for police,” he said.

“We have been active in our support of the event security staff, and our officers have been very effective in maintaining a visible police presence not just around Exhibition Park and the surrounding suburbs, but in other identified hotspots such as Lonsdale Street in Braddon.

“The police statistics for the event will be finalised late tonight (Sunday, January 6) but we can confirm that we are investigating the assault of a young woman and a young man inside the precinct around 10pm on Saturday night (January 5). Investigations into that incident are ongoing.”

Police supported event security staff when evictions where necessary, whilst around-the-clock patrols monitored peripheral issues such as drink-driving, public road burnouts, anti-social behaviour and speeding.

Acting Superintendent Rod Anderson again paid tribute to the planning process, and said that the effective working relationship and cooperation between event organisers, police and ACT government directorates had been a significant contributor to the event’s success.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]