ON PATROL .01 The Mounted Branch hit the streets of Geelong to patrol the areas surrounding nightlife venues.
"Some people think all we do is ceremonial duties, but that is only about two per cent of our job." criminal behaviour on the streets of Victoria’s popular nightlife areas. With members being trained in map reading and riding in difficult terrain, they are also a great resource for search and rescue operations. The unit has more than 20 horses and provides a 24-hour response. The horses poked their heads out curiously as Senior Sergeant Claire Shaw showed us through the stables that smell rich of hay and horse dung. “Crowd control is our main purpose, so, when we’re faced with an angry mob throwing bottles and pulling on the horses’ reins, the most important thing is for them to be able to maintain their stance and push the crowd back into place. “We’re recruiting big strong horses for this reason,” she said, opening the door of a stable. The horse inside stands 18-hands high which, to me, looks as large as a dinosaur. “This is our newest recruit, Thomas. We have a mix of Thoroughbreds and Warm Bloods
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but Thomas has a bit of Clydesdale in him. We’re open to taking on more horses like him.” Today, four members and their horses are being deployed to a demonstration in the western suburbs. While the horses rest, the members, dressed in jodhpurs and polo shirts, sit upstairs in a darkened briefing room watching a video of a demonstration. Sergeant Lisa Royce paces the room, pausing the video to reiterate what to do in certain situations. The video shows four horses and their riders, both clad in high visibility coats and protective headgear, striding through a riotous crowd and pushing them back into place. “Look at this guy,” Sgt Royce says, pointing to a protestor. “He’s a regular. He’ll try to get at you from the side and throw things if he can. It’s really important for your safety that whoever is on the end of the line to stand facing outwards so you have a clear view of all areas.” “Unfortunately, people do try to attack the horses,” Sen Sgt Shaw said as the members broke into discussion. “It’s a serious offence and can see people charged with assault.”
As the briefing wraps up the members head to the stables to kit-up their horses before riding into the training arena where they warm-up. After almost an hour they are ready to go. They load the horses into the trailers and head to the demonstration. While the Mounted Branch can regularly be seen patrolling the streets of Melbourne, members are often called to assist with operations across the state. A week after the demonstration, Police Life joined two members at a SafeStreets shift in Geelong. As Leading Senior Constable Michelle Turner and her partner unloaded the horses from the float, they spoke with local members of where they should patrol and, most importantly, where they were likely to find trouble. The members took a radio which, like all operational units, they use to communicate and respond to jobs. Ldg Sen Const Turner highlighted the benefits of working for the Mounted Branch as the pair clopped towards Geelong’s CBD.
“One of the best things is the variety and the fact that you get to travel across the state,” she said. “Some people think all we do is ceremonial duties, but that is only about two per cent of our job. The majority of our time is spent on the frontline, dealing with the same issues as any other operational unit.” Almost as soon as they reach the town’s centre they are called to a job at a club with a line wrapped around the corner and down the block. Geelong’s Sergeant Adam Foreham and the club’s security were having trouble with an intoxicated patron complaining about not being let in. While Sgt Foreham dealt with the man, the mounted police controlled the 200-strong line of impatient, cold and tipsy patrons. “They are a fantastic resource,” Sgt Foreham said. “They’re especially great when you’re at a demonstration facing a big crowd. You know they’re going to help handle the crowd and thank your lucky stars that they’re there.”
POLICELIFE AUGUST 2011
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