Police chief hints at tougher liquor laws despite reported drop in alcohol-fuelled violence
The ACT's top cop could consider tougher measures to crack down on alcohol-fuelled violence in Canberra next year.
Chief police officer Rudi Lammers was joined by Police Minister Joy Burch on Friday as they launched the Safe Summer campaign to target drunken violence and impaired drivers in the next three months.
ACT Policing members will be out in force around the capital's popular entertainment precincts, with a ramped-up presence from Thursday to Saturday nights, and conducting extra random alcohol and drug tests on roads.
Assistant Commissioner Lammers said further crackdowns on licensed premises, such as lockout laws, might still be on the cards despite a reported drop in alcohol-related violence in the city.
"Canberra already has very strong laws to deal with alcohol-fuelled violence, whether or not we consider other means to make the community safer in and around nightclubs and bars, we'll consider those in the new year."
Ms Burch said ACT Policing already had a "broad and strong regime" to deal with violence inflamed by drug and alcohol consumption.
She said figures from last year's summer safety campaign showed a 30 per cent drop in violent incidents linked to alcohol across the ACT, and a 36 per cent decline in the city, when compared with the same period the previous year.
"Alcohol-related crime is an ongoing priority for the ACT government, as it continues to place an unnecessary financial, social and health burden on the community," she said.
ClubsACT acting chief executive Gwyn Rees said any more stringent measures for licensed venues in the territory would be the topic of a "pretty robust" discussion with pubs and clubs.
"Clubs across the ACT have worked really hard and we've seen alcohol-related crime reduce quite significantly since the introduction of the new liquor act.
"The enforcement action by police is a really important aspect of our licensing regime, and yes, there are enough police out there doing a great job."
Mr Lammers encouraged revellers to have fun, be sensible, look after their friends and make sure they got home safely.
"If you do step out of line our Regional Targeting Team and our patrols will be there and they will have zero tolerance for alcohol-related violence in and around our entertainment districts.
"We'll make sure we work with licensees as we've been doing all year to make sure we have responsible drinking of alcohol, and responsible service of alcohol."
Mr Lammers said general savings measures for ACT Policing, which have forced the agency to reshuffle staff and resources, had not meant a reduction in patrols or officer numbers on the Regional Targeting Team.
Source: Canberra TImes, Megan Gorrey, 11th December 2015
