Waitematā District’s increased summer proactive policing has been on display from the Muriwai settlement to right along Te Oneone Rangatira and Muriwai Beaches.
As part of the annual Operation Blacksands, covering a 50km stretch of beach and dunes, our patrols conducted multiple checkpoints at the four vehicle entry points.
Sadly, there was one fatality on the sands, which can often attract 1,000 vehicles a day as well as thousands of swimmers and holiday makers over the busy summer season.
Waitematā North Area Prevention Manager, Senior Sergeant Roger Small, says there was very little crime and officers had numerous positive engagements with the public.
“The team did a great job this summer, working shifts that matched the low tides so they could be visible and proactive on the beach.
"We worked in closely with multiple external agencies to suppress crime and address poor driving on the beach."
Operation Blacksands ran from 31 December 2023 to 31 January 2024, but Police continue to patrol the area as part of routine deployments.