Countdown to Operation Unite: a police blitz on drunken violence

Thousands of extra police across the nation will flood capital cities and towns on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th December for a blitz aimed at tackling alcohol

-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour.

The crackdown - codenamed Operation Unite - will be a first of its kind and is a comprehensive and coordinated action by police forces in all states and

jurisdictions.

It will demonstrate the united resolve of commissioners to change Australia and New Zealand’s culture of binge drinking in public places, and challenge the

drinking public to take greater responsibility for their conduct.

In Victoria, hundreds of extra police will flood onto the streets in Melbourne CBD, Frankston, Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat. Police commanders will also

retain the flexibility to rapidly respond to other locations, wherever trouble might flare up.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said that enforcement could only ever be a part of the solution – and that further actions were needed

from a range of stakeholders to successfully confront the causes and problems associated with alcohol misuse.

Mr Overland said: “We all share the belief that more can, and must, be done to tackle the dangerous binge drinking culture which has developed among our

younger generations.

“Alcohol fuelled violence is one of the most pressing social challenges of our time. No state or territory is immune to this problem. It is costing us millions

of dollars each year and shattering many, many young lives.

“The ‘drink to get drunk’ culture cannot become the norm and that is why we are taking decisive action. This is a problem we cannot arrest our way out of. We

need greater personal and parental responsibility. And there is a need for stronger policing.

“It’s about making people safer and more secure and sending a clear message that enough is enough. We are not out to curb the enjoyment but instead tackle

this problem with a heightened sense of commitment and urgency.

“That is why we are here announcing a national weekend of enforcement on December 11-12 2009, focusing on crime, violence and anti-social alcohol-related

behaviour in known nightspot locations.

“We all firmly believe that it is not just a case of stopping the violence. We need to find out why it is happening in the first place and start looking at the long

term issues to ensure that these factors don’t influence future generations.”

Hopefully your Mum doesn't get a call like this!!

Issued by Victoria Police News December 9th 2009

http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/more-news/2382-countdown-to-operation-unite-a-police-blitz-on-drunken-violence.html