SA Schoolies attendance down even as police boost presence to increase safety [Video]

The impact of the death of Charlie Stevens appears to be lingering over this year’s Schoolies celebrations in South Australia, with the number of Year 12s planning to attend the South Coast event well down on recent years.

But police have assured parents they’ve increased their numbers in a bid to keep everyone safe.

“During the festival period, you’ll see more police in the area. We’ve got a high visibility response,” Superintendent Joanne Howard said.

This heightened police presence appears to be a welcome development for some school leavers. 

“That was one thing that made my friends and I decide that it was a good idea to go,” student Gemma Hayward said.

This year’s festival will attract close to 4000 leavers – the lowest attendance in years.

In addition to the bolstered police presence, over …