A SPECIALIST task force from Victoria Police will patrol Altona and Williamstown beaches and Altona Meadows from Sunday 12 September.

Officers will be on the lookout for hoon driving, public disorder and general anti-social behaviour.

“There is a huge influx in numbers in the summer months (to the Hobsons Bay area),” Victoria Police Sergeant Terry West said.

Hobsons Bay City council and the Altona Village Traders Association will be funding a security guard to also patrol hot spots in Altona for 20 weeks throughout summer.

“We have been working very closely with local police planning to make Altona a very safe place this summer,” Kim Walsh from the Altona Village Traders Association said.

After last year’s stabbing at Altona pier some residents are concerned that similar incidents of violence will break out again in the coming months.

While some have criticised new police powers to search for weapons “anyplace, anywhere, anytime” Mr Walsh believes the powers could be instrumental in preventing incidents similar to last November’s stabbing.

“Any increase of powers in the police to search for weapons has got to help in some degree,” Mr Walsh said.

A Summer Safety Launch will be held on Sunday 21 November at Logan Reserve from 12pm.