LIMESTONE Coast’s leading police officer is fed up with dangerous driving across Mount Gambier after police detected close to a dozen vehicles driving at high speeds over the past week.
Occurring in all parts of the city at different times of the day, several vehicles – some carrying no number plates – have engaged in the brazen and dangerous criminal activity.
Travelling at speeds of more than 100kph, Limestone Coast Police officer in charge Superintendent Phil Hoff said officers were reluctant to engage in a police pursuit because of the danger it presented to the broader community.
“It is so brazen and it is so dangerous that I do not want my patrols engaging with them on the road because if police give chase to these people it is just going to amplify their response in trying to get away,” Supt Hoff said.
“We are not going to chase them on the road and endanger people, but we are going to seek the public’s assistance to help track them down.”
Clearly not afraid to rebel against the law, some offenders have even tried to tempt police into engaging in a pursuit.
“The other night we had a patrol driving along and a car came up behind flashing its high beams and our patrol slowed down thinking it was a member of the public wanting to speak with them,” he said.
“The car rapidly accelerated, swerved in front of the police car narrowly missing it and then drove away in excess of 100kph with a passenger hanging outside the window gesticulating rudely to the police.”
Burnouts have also scarred many city roads and Supt Hoff said he believed a small cohort of drivers were responsible for the behaviour.
“I suspect there is a small cohort of people and I do not know if they are all associated with each other,” he said.
“Most people are trying to do the right thing, but we do still have a small group of criminals that are out there doing the wrong thing.”
He said dangerous driving had been a growing trend in Mount Gambier, describing it as one of the most frustrating things occurring in the community.
“It’s getting to a really dangerous situation where it is happening with such frequency that we need to bring these people to a position where they cannot do these things anymore,” he said.
“Innocent people are at risk – the most dangerous task I ask any of my staff to do is go out and drive a car and in these circumstances where we are pursuing people there are too many variables to be able to execute that sort of activity safely.”
As a result he said the community had a significant role to play and he urged people to provide any information they can regarding criminal activity.
“Tell us about where you see burnouts on the road, when you hear it, if you see cars without number plates, if you have any concerns or see these things, call us,” he said.
Anyone who has witnessed this behaviour can contact police on 131 444, report it online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
