THEY'VE had three weeks warning to clean up their act. From tonight drunken thugs across the state will be the target of a police crackdown on booze-fuelled violence.
Operation Unite - a two-day nationwide blitz announced in The Advertiser last month - will result in 200 officers flooding the CBD, Glenelg, Gawler and Mt Gambier.
The operation is designed to highlight a zero tolerance ap- proach to drunken violence and other alcohol-related crime.
The brainchild of police chiefs across Australia and New Zealand, Operation Unite will involve drug and drink driving tests, inspecting pubs and clubs and putting the brakes on troublemakers.
Deputy Commissioner Gary Burns said the blitz was developed during a meeting of deputy police commissioners in October.
"What we decided was to show the resolve of all police forces in Australia and New Zealand against alcohol-fuelled violence resulting from binge drinking," he said.
Police will hit the streets from 10pm tonight until 6am tomorrow and will be back out from 10pm Saturday for a further eight hours.
Uniformed police will be joined by officers from the licensing enforcement branch, STAR Group, mounted patrols and traffic operations, and a drug detection dog.
"We expect people to go out and have a good time, but we want them to drink responsibly," Mr Burns said.
Licensing enforcement police will be checking overcrowding in pubs and clubs, underage drinking and the serving of drunk patrons.
"Australia-wide last year, 3000 lives were lost due to alcohol-related harm - it's a major issue," Mr Burns said. A major focus during Operation Unite will be
Hindley St, with police already involved in a State Government review of licensing legislation that could force Hindley St pubs to close early.
Yesterday, the SA branch of the Australian Hotels Association called on venues and patrons to do the right thing. "Ultimately appropriate behaviour must come from the individual - no amount of police power can enforce it," general manager Ian Horne said.
Issued by Adelaide Now 11th December 2009
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,,26469116-2682,00.html
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