Newcastle 500: Police launch Operation Axils

Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell, the leader of Operations Axils, said he had sought the involvement of multiple police units, including helicopters, sniffer dogs, and licensing police, in order to ensure the safety of more than 150,000 people. 

“The message is very clear,” he said.

“Please behave and have a great time, as festive as last year, we want to see that again, and we’ll be there to make sure it happens safely and securely.

“There will be an ample amount of police officers that if anyone steps out of line they will be removed and charged for those offences,” he said. 

Spectators were “well-behaved” last year and there was “nothing to suggest” their behaviour would differ the second time round, he said.  

Police activity will be focused on crowd control on the track side.

“This year we still have a local police forced fortified by specialist services from Sydney. We’ll have helicopters in the sky, as well as dogs around these locations,” Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said. 

“Certainly the only activity that is different to last year is more activity of the policing aspect outside the precinct, certainly around Darby Street, Hunter Street and some of our licensed venues, and of course at the event that will be held with Simple Minds over at No 1 Sportsground. 

“Highway patrol will be looking for behaviours like drink driving, not wearing seat belts and people using mobile phones.”

He said the major concern was disruptive behaviour. 

“One of the major factors is making sure people don’t get excited and they don’t push and shove. That can occur with large crowds.

“If anyone is overindulging in alcohol just give them a tap on the shoulder and remind them because what we don’t want to be seeing is people have too much to consume and then causing problems with others,” he said. 

A Transport Management Centre spokesperson said public transport was the “best plan” to get to the event’s gates. 

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