Australia, Police to mingle with fans

OFF THE WIRE
BY: John Dobson
Source: inmycommunity.com.au

Site manager Tim Bradsmith with Perth Motorplex general manager Kevin Prendegast... ‘everyone who attends the Guns ‘N’ Roses concert should feel safe’. Picture: Neil Mulligan Buy this photo
POLICE will have a “strong” presence at next month’s Guns ‘N’ Roses concert at the Perth Motorplex in Kwinana Beach but say they expect no problems like last month’s bikie brawl.

The complex management, police, the Town of Kwinana and the promoter will finalise security plans in the coming days for the concert on December 11, which is expected to draw up to 15,000 people.

Peel District Office Inspector Peter Hatch said police were working closely with all parties to plan for the event.

“There will be a strong police presence at the concert to deter any potential offending or antisocial behaviour,” he said.

“However, for operational reasons it is not proposed to elaborate on the numbers of police attending or the areas they will be drawn from.”

A brawl between rival gangs at a motorcycle drag event last month left three Finks gang members in hospital.

Motorplex general manager Kevin Prendergast said the “level” of the incident was not yet known but concert-goers should feel safe at the complex.

“That was a one-off incident,” he said. “We are obviously disappointed but we are working our way through any issues for the concert with the police and events promoter.

“We take on board anything we learn from it but we don’t believe it has impacted this event. It could have happened anywhere.”

Mr Prendergast said the motorplex hosted about 120 events each season attended by 250,000 people and had recorded 2.5 million visitors in 10 years.

“The concert is a great event to have for us and this region and we look forward to it,” he said.

Kwinana officer in charge Senior Sergeant Trevor Troy said police had no information to suggest a repeat of the brawl.

He said police would maintain a presence at the event and surrounding suburb, but would only play a supporting role to motorplex security staff.

“We will take our lead from their security,” he said.

“We don’t expect any problems and police would most likely just patrol the gate and car park area,” he said.

About 150 security staff were expected to be at the event.