ID :
176482
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 14:18
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http://m.oananews.org//node/176482
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Tough pub laws working: NSW crime stats
Tough licensing restrictions introduced three years ago in NSW to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence have seen a reduction in assaults after midnight, new crime statistics show.
In 2008, the then-Labor state government introduced new laws to curb booze-related assaults, imposing 2am lockouts, tougher service restrictions and the use of plastic glasses in the state's most violent pubs and clubs.
The state Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) on Tuesday released a report showing assaults on licensed premises between midnight and 5am had fallen by 2.4 per month since 2008.
From March 2004 and March 2008 such assaults were rising by an average of 4.8 per month.
BOCSAR director Don Weatherburn said it was encouraging to see the restrictions were having a positive "spill-over effect" on assaults in public places, which recorded an average decline of 4.8 assaults per month over the same period of time.
"This is important because a big percentage of alcohol-related assaults occur within 20 metres of licensed premises," he said.
Dr Weatherburn said the new Coalition government had to keep the pressure on violent pubs if it wanted to see continued falls in the assault rate.
"If people take the view that its a nanny state to control that kind of problem they'll have to live with the higher rate of assault. You can't have it both ways," he said.
The O'Farrell government has promised a number of changes to the way it deals with alcohol-related violence, including sobering up centres, stronger move on powers for police, and a three strikes policy for problem pubs.
Under the three strikes plan, included in the new government's 100 day plan, venues that fail to curb violence would be stripped of their licences.
Police Minister Michael Gallacher said responsibility for stopping alcohol-related violence should not just fall to pubs and clubs.
"It cannot just simply rest with responsible service of alcohol, it cannot simply rest with a licensed premises being the only one holding up their end of the deal in terms of making sure that our streets are safe," he said.
"If we're going to make it tougher for them in relation to a three strikes and you're out policy, then equally we need to introduce a concept called responsible consumption of alcohol where individuals themselves will be accountable for their own actions."
In 2008, the then-Labor state government introduced new laws to curb booze-related assaults, imposing 2am lockouts, tougher service restrictions and the use of plastic glasses in the state's most violent pubs and clubs.
The state Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) on Tuesday released a report showing assaults on licensed premises between midnight and 5am had fallen by 2.4 per month since 2008.
From March 2004 and March 2008 such assaults were rising by an average of 4.8 per month.
BOCSAR director Don Weatherburn said it was encouraging to see the restrictions were having a positive "spill-over effect" on assaults in public places, which recorded an average decline of 4.8 assaults per month over the same period of time.
"This is important because a big percentage of alcohol-related assaults occur within 20 metres of licensed premises," he said.
Dr Weatherburn said the new Coalition government had to keep the pressure on violent pubs if it wanted to see continued falls in the assault rate.
"If people take the view that its a nanny state to control that kind of problem they'll have to live with the higher rate of assault. You can't have it both ways," he said.
The O'Farrell government has promised a number of changes to the way it deals with alcohol-related violence, including sobering up centres, stronger move on powers for police, and a three strikes policy for problem pubs.
Under the three strikes plan, included in the new government's 100 day plan, venues that fail to curb violence would be stripped of their licences.
Police Minister Michael Gallacher said responsibility for stopping alcohol-related violence should not just fall to pubs and clubs.
"It cannot just simply rest with responsible service of alcohol, it cannot simply rest with a licensed premises being the only one holding up their end of the deal in terms of making sure that our streets are safe," he said.
"If we're going to make it tougher for them in relation to a three strikes and you're out policy, then equally we need to introduce a concept called responsible consumption of alcohol where individuals themselves will be accountable for their own actions."
