The large police presence in town for the festival was only strengthened on Australia Day as more officers patrolled public holiday hot spots.

Thousands descended on the Tamworth CBD for the January 26 celebrations as well as day eight of the festival.

Police carried out random breath tests and licence checks on boats at Keepit Dam while officers on bikes patrolled the streets in and around Tamworth and the men and women in blue walked the beat in pubs and clubs and the festival precinct.

Highway patrol officers were also spotted carrying out random breath test and drug testing in Taminda on Friday morning. 

Operation Sherbrook – the police operation covering the festival – will wrap up on Monday but operation commander Chief Inspector Jeff Budd told The Leader most of the incidents police have been called too involved locals, not visitors.

“We have had fantastic visitor crowds throughout the festival but again we see out locals featuring in offences for failing to quit premises, intoxication issues and misbehaving or committing offences for offensive conduct,” he said.

“Those locals that we’re dealing with should know better.

“The festival continuing to improve and there is a change in dynamic, it’s more family friendly crowd and it’s fantastic for the town, and so far, there has been no major incidents.”

Chief Inspector Budd said one man had been charged after “a swift arrest” for a break-in and damaging a Peel Street cafe earlier in the week but “there was very minimal anti-social behaviour in the street”.

“The venues are managing their people very well, there has been minimal poor interactions with police from licensed venues,” he said.

“Our PCYC staff are down in the festival precinct and we have ACLOs from across the state here and we have the youth bus initiative again as well as Aboriginal elder working with the community to make sure that all young kids are safe and enjoying the festival.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback, especially with the police presence for the festival and that is something we want to continue, to ensure everyone enjoys the festivities safely.”

Several infringements have been handed out for alcohol-related issues but drink driving rates were down, and shoplifting too.

Chief Inspector Budd said undercover officers had thwarted several incidents. In one case, a mobile phone left on a table for just a few short minutes was picked up by young kids who then tried to on-sell it but it was an undercover officer who caught them out when they tried to off-load it.

“The impact they have had in the street has been very positive this year, the covert police we said were out there and they are doing some great work, and these officers don’t look like police, so they have been very proactive,” he said.