POLICE TO TARGET LIQUOR-RELATED OFFENCES IN FESTIVE SEASON BLITZ
Drunken 'hot spots' across the state will be targeted in an unprecedented state-wide $1.5 million Police blitz during the Christmas and New Year period.
Premier Anna Bligh said the crackdown would deliver a minimum of 16,000 additional hours of police power focused on the enforcement of liquor-related offences, anti-social behaviour and harm reduction activities.
The action, which will mirror traditional drink driving crackdowns, will be on top of additional enforcement usually undertaken by police during the festive season. The operation is aimed at reducing the property damage, drunken violence and sexual assaults associated with heavy drinking during Christmas and New Year.
The Premier said that hundreds police officers will be involved in the 'hot spot' operations which will run during the months of December and January and include:
•Inspections of pubs and clubs to ensure licensees are complying with responsible service of alcohol laws and other conditions of their licenses
•Plain clothes patrols dressed as part goers targeting under-age drinking and excessive levels of intoxication.
•Highly visible uniformed patrols.
•Targeted dog squad operations.
"We want to ensure that party goers can celebrate the festive season in safety," Ms Bligh said. "That's why my government will make an additional $1.5 million available to the Queensland Police Service to task
officers on overtime, in addition to their normal duties, in a state-wide blitz targeting anti-social behaviour in public areas." The Premier said the blitz will target locations such as: Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley,
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Mackay CBD, Townsville CBD and Cairns CBD. "Extra policing activity will also be undertaken in communities where Alcohol
Management Plans are in place," she added. Police Minister Neil Roberts said the police crackdown would incorporate the use of specialist areas of the police service including Tactical Crime squads, detectives,
Traffic Branch officers and general duties police. He said Liquor Licensing officers would also be involved. "Officers will be engaged in targeted, intelligence-driven operations, action plans and general patrols aimed
at these identified 'hot spots' across the state," Mr Roberts said. The Premier said the one-off additional funding boost for the QPS was an example of the government's determination to stamp-out alcohol-fuelled
violence in the community. "The far-ranging, Queensland-wide Parliamentary Inquiry into alcohol-fuelled violence and its ramifications will hand down its report next year and I look forward to that," she said.
"The government has also announced that it will fund the continuation of the highly successful One Punch Can Kill campaign in an effort to reinforce the very real consequences of violence. All it takes is one punch
for lives to be destroyed." Minister Roberts said that alcohol-fuelled violence was a very serious issue and while police would do everything possible the community must play its part as well. "People need to take
responsibility for their behaviour and actions," he said. "The fact is it is not acceptable to drink to excess, or take drugs, and then engage in violence. "Mates have also got to look after their mates. If a member of
your group is acting inappropriately then their friends should pull them aside and keep them out of trouble."
Issued by Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
22/11/2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Media Statement - Unlicensed security guard fined $8,000
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
20/11/2009
Unlicensed security guard fined $8,000
A Browns Plains man who pleaded guilty to working as a security provider whilst unlicensed has been fined $8,000 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court (11 November 2009).
Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said former security officer Robert Patrick Robison was found guilty of 46 counts of breaching the Security Providers Act 1993.
"Fair Trading inspectors conducted a random spot check at a Redlands club and found that Mr Robison was working without a crowd controller's licence," Mr Lawlor said.
"It was also identified that Mr Robison had been working as an unlicensed security officer at two other premises in St Lucia.
"Mr Robison's licence had expired in August 2008, but he continued to work as a security officer and crowd controller for up to six months while unlicensed.
"Working as a security provider carries a high level of responsibility and unprofessional behaviour will not be tolerated.
"That's why there ar e very high penalties for anyone found breaching the Security Providers Act," he said.
Mr Lawlor said Queensland security providers risked fines of up to $50,000 if they did not have an appropriate licence.
"The state government has implemented tough legislation to clean-up the industry and has made it very clear that unprofessional conduct will not be tolerated," he said.
Consumers and businesses can search for a licence holder's name or their licence number to check if they hold the appropriate licence.
The free online search facility is available at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au.
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
20/11/2009
Unlicensed security guard fined $8,000
A Browns Plains man who pleaded guilty to working as a security provider whilst unlicensed has been fined $8,000 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court (11 November 2009).
Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said former security officer Robert Patrick Robison was found guilty of 46 counts of breaching the Security Providers Act 1993.
"Fair Trading inspectors conducted a random spot check at a Redlands club and found that Mr Robison was working without a crowd controller's licence," Mr Lawlor said.
"It was also identified that Mr Robison had been working as an unlicensed security officer at two other premises in St Lucia.
"Mr Robison's licence had expired in August 2008, but he continued to work as a security officer and crowd controller for up to six months while unlicensed.
"Working as a security provider carries a high level of responsibility and unprofessional behaviour will not be tolerated.
"That's why there ar e very high penalties for anyone found breaching the Security Providers Act," he said.
Mr Lawlor said Queensland security providers risked fines of up to $50,000 if they did not have an appropriate licence.
"The state government has implemented tough legislation to clean-up the industry and has made it very clear that unprofessional conduct will not be tolerated," he said.
Consumers and businesses can search for a licence holder's name or their licence number to check if they hold the appropriate licence.
The free online search facility is available at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au.
Officials wash hands of Schoolies mayhem
Public officials have washed their hands of the debauchery surrounding the Gold Coast Schoolies Festival, saying there is nothing they can do to stop teenagers flocking to the city.
This year's high arrest figures and loutish behaviour have reignited calls from businesses and the community to can the event and cut State Government and Gold Coast City Council funding for the local safety response strategy.
Upset residents and workers have inundated The Gold Coast Bulletin and goldcoast.com.au with angry text messages, emails, comments and letters to the editor.
Q1 residents, led by Dr Martin Clark, have called for the event to be remarketed as a camping festival in the Hinterland or a music festival at a showgrounds site, akin to the Big Day Out.
Councillors, politicians and the local chamber of commerce say there is no way to stop the tidal wave of teenagers from flocking to the tourism heart each year.
They say only better management, made possible through the public purse and volunteer hours, will decrease the impact on the Gold Coast.
Mayor Ron Clarke said he believed this year's schoolies were worse than ever and the event had become a blight on the Coast's reputation.
"Schoolies seems to be no longer about enjoying yourself -- it's about getting drunk and losing control," he said.
"There's no doubt Schoolies hurts us -- it hurts the Gold Coast, the residents and tourism and the publicity only attracts more hoons and the like to the area."
He said the council could not consider cutting funding to manage the event.
"There's nothing any of us can do about Schoolies," he said.
"We can't put a barrier up and say 'no schoolies' because if we did it would be akin to saying we don't want tourists."
State politicians have also declared their hands are tied when it comes to the event.
Premier Anna Bligh said it was the Government's job to make the event safer and it was up to local businesses to regulate their own involvement.
"Schoolies will always flock to the Gold Coast to celebrate the end of Year 12 and it's local businesses, employing local workers, who make the decision to rent the rooms," she said.
"As a government, it's our role to make it as safe as possible and that's why the event is now more organised with more supervision than ever before."
Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach Chambers of Commerce president Laura Younger said the business community was split over the Schoolies issue.
"There's always mixed opinions when it comes to Schoolies because it is exceptionally lucrative for some and devastating for others," she said.
"If you are a hotel, liquor store or fast food outlet, you are all for the event but there will always be those people who would like to see it moved on."
Ms Younger said many businesses were ecstatic to hear of a decline in numbers at this year's event and supported the trend for schoolies to travel to other locations, including Byron Bay and the Sunshine Coast to celebrate.
Published in Gold Coast News on 27th November.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/11/27/163145_gold-coast-schoolies.html
This year's high arrest figures and loutish behaviour have reignited calls from businesses and the community to can the event and cut State Government and Gold Coast City Council funding for the local safety response strategy.
Upset residents and workers have inundated The Gold Coast Bulletin and goldcoast.com.au with angry text messages, emails, comments and letters to the editor.
Q1 residents, led by Dr Martin Clark, have called for the event to be remarketed as a camping festival in the Hinterland or a music festival at a showgrounds site, akin to the Big Day Out.
Councillors, politicians and the local chamber of commerce say there is no way to stop the tidal wave of teenagers from flocking to the tourism heart each year.
They say only better management, made possible through the public purse and volunteer hours, will decrease the impact on the Gold Coast.
Mayor Ron Clarke said he believed this year's schoolies were worse than ever and the event had become a blight on the Coast's reputation.
"Schoolies seems to be no longer about enjoying yourself -- it's about getting drunk and losing control," he said.
"There's no doubt Schoolies hurts us -- it hurts the Gold Coast, the residents and tourism and the publicity only attracts more hoons and the like to the area."
He said the council could not consider cutting funding to manage the event.
"There's nothing any of us can do about Schoolies," he said.
"We can't put a barrier up and say 'no schoolies' because if we did it would be akin to saying we don't want tourists."
State politicians have also declared their hands are tied when it comes to the event.
Premier Anna Bligh said it was the Government's job to make the event safer and it was up to local businesses to regulate their own involvement.
"Schoolies will always flock to the Gold Coast to celebrate the end of Year 12 and it's local businesses, employing local workers, who make the decision to rent the rooms," she said.
"As a government, it's our role to make it as safe as possible and that's why the event is now more organised with more supervision than ever before."
Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach Chambers of Commerce president Laura Younger said the business community was split over the Schoolies issue.
"There's always mixed opinions when it comes to Schoolies because it is exceptionally lucrative for some and devastating for others," she said.
"If you are a hotel, liquor store or fast food outlet, you are all for the event but there will always be those people who would like to see it moved on."
Ms Younger said many businesses were ecstatic to hear of a decline in numbers at this year's event and supported the trend for schoolies to travel to other locations, including Byron Bay and the Sunshine Coast to celebrate.
Published in Gold Coast News on 27th November.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/11/27/163145_gold-coast-schoolies.html
Monday, November 23, 2009
Valley venues say chill-out, more ID scanners on the way
"Chill-out" zones, ID scanners and a new awareness campaign are measures put forward by licensees today as their answer to curbing alcohol-fuelled violence in Fortitude Valley.
The announcement comes as a Queensland parliamentary committee continues its inquiry into the issue amid moves to ban glass in high-risk venues and calls to wind-back trading hours in the Valley and Brisbane CBD.
Members of the Valley Liquor Accord (VLA) today unveiled a new harm minimisation and safety program called Your Playground. Play Nice, Play safe.
The year-long program includes a Drug Arm-led drug awareness and prevention campaign, greater participation in the government's existing Safer Venues campaign and the further rollout of ID scanning devices.
Currently, more than 4500 patrons have to hand over their IDs for scanning every Friday and Saturday night at three Valley venues - the Family nightclub, Love and Rockets and the Met.
An additional three venues are expected to have ID scanners by mid-December, with further nightspots taking up the technology in following months.
Valley Chamber of Commerce president Louis Bickle, whose Katarzyna Group owns a stable of big-name venues in the entertainment precinct including Family, said the key was making perpetrators of violent crimes more accountable for their actions.
He praised the adoption of ID scanners across local venues under the new program.
"Since we introduce these scanners in the next three months, you are going to see the behaviour change, you are going to see the police having to make less arrests and you're gonna get rid of that brainless one per cent [perpetrating violence]," he said.
The safety push also includes the introduction of a designated ChaplainWatch "chill-out" zone located outside the Valley Mall Police Beat for those in need, at risk or in crisis.
The Your Playground. Play Nice, Play Safe campaign is in addition to a number of measures already undertaken in the Valley including the introduction of taxi supervisors and increases in on-premise security personnel, public transport services and closed-circuit television cameras.
The safety campaign won support this morning from local police, State MP Grace Grace and Central Ward councillor David Hinchliffe.
Ms Grace said the "play safe" message central to the campaign was in step with the government's own harm minimisation efforts and revised liquor licensing laws.
"There is no one silver bullet in managing a place the size of the valley mall or any place in Queensland really," Ms Grace said.
"You need to have a coordinated approach, you need to have the right messages, you need to work cooperatively together to ensure that we deliver what is a fantastic precinct for those who come and play here in the Valley."
However, Mr Bickle slammed the State Government's crackdown on glass in premises and the "shallow minds" advocating 2am venue closures.
"Most of the people in this industry know that's bull****," he said.
"We have the best set of rules and best management skills and best operations out of anywhere in Australia.
"I've got friends in Melbourne who have bars and clubs and they're struggling down there, they really are."
Published in Brisbane Times 18 November.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/valley-venues-say-chillout-more-id-scanners-on-the-way-20091118-im34.html
The announcement comes as a Queensland parliamentary committee continues its inquiry into the issue amid moves to ban glass in high-risk venues and calls to wind-back trading hours in the Valley and Brisbane CBD.
Members of the Valley Liquor Accord (VLA) today unveiled a new harm minimisation and safety program called Your Playground. Play Nice, Play safe.
The year-long program includes a Drug Arm-led drug awareness and prevention campaign, greater participation in the government's existing Safer Venues campaign and the further rollout of ID scanning devices.
Currently, more than 4500 patrons have to hand over their IDs for scanning every Friday and Saturday night at three Valley venues - the Family nightclub, Love and Rockets and the Met.
An additional three venues are expected to have ID scanners by mid-December, with further nightspots taking up the technology in following months.
Valley Chamber of Commerce president Louis Bickle, whose Katarzyna Group owns a stable of big-name venues in the entertainment precinct including Family, said the key was making perpetrators of violent crimes more accountable for their actions.
He praised the adoption of ID scanners across local venues under the new program.
"Since we introduce these scanners in the next three months, you are going to see the behaviour change, you are going to see the police having to make less arrests and you're gonna get rid of that brainless one per cent [perpetrating violence]," he said.
The safety push also includes the introduction of a designated ChaplainWatch "chill-out" zone located outside the Valley Mall Police Beat for those in need, at risk or in crisis.
The Your Playground. Play Nice, Play Safe campaign is in addition to a number of measures already undertaken in the Valley including the introduction of taxi supervisors and increases in on-premise security personnel, public transport services and closed-circuit television cameras.
The safety campaign won support this morning from local police, State MP Grace Grace and Central Ward councillor David Hinchliffe.
Ms Grace said the "play safe" message central to the campaign was in step with the government's own harm minimisation efforts and revised liquor licensing laws.
"There is no one silver bullet in managing a place the size of the valley mall or any place in Queensland really," Ms Grace said.
"You need to have a coordinated approach, you need to have the right messages, you need to work cooperatively together to ensure that we deliver what is a fantastic precinct for those who come and play here in the Valley."
However, Mr Bickle slammed the State Government's crackdown on glass in premises and the "shallow minds" advocating 2am venue closures.
"Most of the people in this industry know that's bull****," he said.
"We have the best set of rules and best management skills and best operations out of anywhere in Australia.
"I've got friends in Melbourne who have bars and clubs and they're struggling down there, they really are."
Published in Brisbane Times 18 November.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/valley-venues-say-chillout-more-id-scanners-on-the-way-20091118-im34.html
Monday, November 9, 2009
2am lockdown linked to cab queue mayhem
Clubbers would be at greater risk of violence and aggression in cab queues if all venues in the Brisbane CBD and Fortitude Valley were forced to close at 2am, the taxi industry has warned.
The Queensland Police Union yesterday called on the State Government to wind back closing times in the city's entertainment precincts in a bid to rein in alcohol-fuelled punch-ups.
Taxi Council of Queensland chief executive officer Blair Davies said the proposal, made in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry, would stretch cab rank queues to "unpleasant" levels with thousands of people spilling out of nightclubs at the one time.
"Moving to a synchronised close-down is really a backward step," he told brisbanetimes.com.au.
"From our point of view the theory is relatively easy: once people have finished partying ... if they can get to their transport safely and have minimum waiting times, that reduces their chance of being a victim ... and it also reduces the potential to be an offender.
"But if all of these people spill out of the nightclubs at once, head to a taxi rank, they may see 50 people waiting and instead of joining the queue in an orderly manner go around seeing what mischief they can get up to.
"And that's not a recipe for much of a solution."
Brisbane venues are currently subject to a 3am lockout, allowing clubs to continue trading after this time but not to allow any new patrons to enter.
The measure was introduced in 2005 after two bashing deaths hit the headlines - one involving a man who was assaulted following a queue-jumping incident at Petrie Terrace, and the other a 23-year-old man who suffered fatal head injuries when he was attacked in the Brisbane CBD.
Mr Davies today acknowledged some people had to wait more than half an hour for a cab at several ranks around the 3am to 4am period on busy mornings, but said the lockout measure ensured a better, staggered flow of patrons waiting for transport than would be evident with a synchronised closure.
He called instead for measures to ensure venues did not admit drunk patrons or get their customers intoxicated. He's also seeking increased penalties for offenders who attack police, ambulance officers and transport operators rather than letting them off "scott free".
"Between midnight and 5am, people think they're anonymous," he said.
"They've had too much to drink or taken party drugs, and those things they'd be completely embarrassed about in the clear light of day, they do."
Published in Brisbane Times 28 October.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/2am-lockdown-linked-to-cab-queue-mayhem-20091028-hkbe.html
The Queensland Police Union yesterday called on the State Government to wind back closing times in the city's entertainment precincts in a bid to rein in alcohol-fuelled punch-ups.
Taxi Council of Queensland chief executive officer Blair Davies said the proposal, made in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry, would stretch cab rank queues to "unpleasant" levels with thousands of people spilling out of nightclubs at the one time.
"Moving to a synchronised close-down is really a backward step," he told brisbanetimes.com.au.
"From our point of view the theory is relatively easy: once people have finished partying ... if they can get to their transport safely and have minimum waiting times, that reduces their chance of being a victim ... and it also reduces the potential to be an offender.
"But if all of these people spill out of the nightclubs at once, head to a taxi rank, they may see 50 people waiting and instead of joining the queue in an orderly manner go around seeing what mischief they can get up to.
"And that's not a recipe for much of a solution."
Brisbane venues are currently subject to a 3am lockout, allowing clubs to continue trading after this time but not to allow any new patrons to enter.
The measure was introduced in 2005 after two bashing deaths hit the headlines - one involving a man who was assaulted following a queue-jumping incident at Petrie Terrace, and the other a 23-year-old man who suffered fatal head injuries when he was attacked in the Brisbane CBD.
Mr Davies today acknowledged some people had to wait more than half an hour for a cab at several ranks around the 3am to 4am period on busy mornings, but said the lockout measure ensured a better, staggered flow of patrons waiting for transport than would be evident with a synchronised closure.
He called instead for measures to ensure venues did not admit drunk patrons or get their customers intoxicated. He's also seeking increased penalties for offenders who attack police, ambulance officers and transport operators rather than letting them off "scott free".
"Between midnight and 5am, people think they're anonymous," he said.
"They've had too much to drink or taken party drugs, and those things they'd be completely embarrassed about in the clear light of day, they do."
Published in Brisbane Times 28 October.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/2am-lockdown-linked-to-cab-queue-mayhem-20091028-hkbe.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
