VIC: Victoria police vow to lock up unruly NYE drunks

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2006
VIC: Victoria police vow to lock up unruly NYE drunks

MELBOURNE, Dec 31 AAP - Police in Victoria have vowed to lock up unruly New Year's Eve drunks.

Victoria Police Superintendent Mick Williams has warned that police vans are on standby
to escort drunks to lockups to sober up behind bars for four hours.

"If it appears their friends can look after them - and they're on the way home - that's
good, but quite often young people become obnoxious to deal with," Supt Williams told
The Sunday Herald Sun. "We don't want to waste time looking after them."

He added that sex crimes police will mingle with revellers and will act on complaints of abuse.

"Part of our planning for New Year's Eve is to ensure we have sex offence units on
duty because we quite often find there are reports," he said.

Meanwhile, drunken louts will be given on-the-spot 24-hour bans from entertainment
areas under tough new laws to take effect in Victoria later this year, and repeat offenders
will be hit with long-term bans.

"We will combat alcohol-related violence and disorder by introducing 24-hour bans for
individuals from licensed premises in designated areas and exclusion orders for repeat
offenders," a government spokesman said in a statement.

Police will be able to issue the 24-hour bans "on-the-spot".

Details of the operation of the new laws will be released soon, the paper said.

It's anticipated each ban will relate to a specific precinct - such as the Chapel St
area, the CBD's King St zone, Richmond, or Fitzroy.

The government spokesman said it's hoped the new laws will take effect before next
year's New Year celebrations.

AAP ao

KEYWORD: DRUNKS LEAD

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