City of Melbourne Safety Summit

The City of Melbourne has announced plans for a Safety Summit to help combat street crime, violence and drunken behaviour - to take place within the next two weeks. The move has received support from key stakeholders including Premier John Brumby, Victoria Police and the Night Club Owners Forum. The Summit will also invite the Liquor Licensing Commission, ambulance and emergency services representatives.

"This is a complex issue, but Council believes that adopting a co-ordinated, multi-agency approach will provide us with the best opportunity for success" said Councillor Peter Clarke, who led the push for the Summit.

The Summit will discuss key initiatives including:
More Police asking the Victorian Government to fund and direct Victoria Police to increase its numbers by at least 25 effective officers during the peak periods of midnight to 5am in Fridays and Saturdays.
Create a steering committee with multiple stakeholders asking the Ministers for Police and Consumer Affairs to convene a steering committee with Council and the Melbourne Licensees Forum to develop an action plan, focussed on city safety and amenity.
Flat fare taxi zones asking the Victorian Taxi Directorate to examine the potential of flat fare zones for taxi services during the peak periods of midnight-to-5am on Fridays and Saturdays so as to prioritise the use of taxis at those times for patrons leaving the city.
Bringing forward implementation of existing policy asking the State Government to immediately fund the staffing of the proposed enforcement arm of LLV, currently promised for the 2009-10 financial year.

Source: City of Melbourne & The Shout.

Man dead in QBH assault

Matthew McEvoy, a 25 year-old Cranbourne man, died yesterday in hospital after a violent encounter outside of the QBH nightclub in Southbank. It is alleged Mr. McEvoy became involved in an argument with another man in the smoking area of the nightclub about 2:30am and was punched in the head. Later, a second man is alleged to have kicked him in the head. Andryas Tello, 21, and 18-year-old Laurn Sakoof, both from Roxburgh Park, have been charged with intentionally causing serious injury and faced Melbourne Magistrate's Court today.

Gary Jamieson, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner, warned that alcohol-fueled violence in the CBD could get worse before it gets better. "That's always our concern, that we haven't hit rock bottom," Mr Jamieson said. He also added that "the licensees themselves have a lot to answer for in not supporting the (2am lockout) proposal."

This fatal attack was the second involving QBH in two years, following the death of Shannon McCormack, 22, in April 2007.

Ross Blair-Holt, chief operating officer of ALH Group which runs QBH, defended the club, saying the weekend fatality was "very tragic" and his staff had been left traumatised. "The view of management and security personnel is that the people involved were not intoxicated at the time... We did everything we could possibly do. We had the right number of security and we also had St John Ambulance on duty on the premises and the person assaulted was attended to 15 minutes quicker than had he waited for an ambulance." Mr. Blair-Holt went on to say "as for the wider problem, the key issue really is a lack of police presence in and around the city."

The Age is also reporting on a separate incident, where a man from Kealba was rushed to hospital after having his jugular slashed in an altercation at the Loft nightclub on Lonsdale Street.

Police are urging anyone who witnessed the assaults to come forward or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Sources: The Age, ABC News 1 & 2

Logic locked out

In an opinion piece for the Herald Sun, Tim Wilson, a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs in Melbourne, writes about the "dumb" decisions regarding a 2am lockout. He says the root causes of the problem are bar tenders serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons and inadequate police presence in the inner city at night. Click here to read the full article.

Radical alcohol laws introduced

Beginning June 3rd, people will not be allowed to enter licensed venues in the CBD after 2am. Existing patrons will be allowed to remain on licensed premises until 7am or the end of the venue's allocated liquor license - whichever is earlier. Further, no new liquor licenses will be approved for venues hoping to open after 1am.

Victorian Premier John Brumby says the binge-drinking problem justifies such a move when he announced these restrictions yesterday as part of a three month trial in inner-city pubs, clubs and bars. He also announced a $17.6 million Liquor Licensing Compliance Directorate to be established within the Department of Justice. “This directorate will be responsible for the inspection and enforcement of liquor license laws and will be staffed by 30 inspectors and six lawyers,” Mr Brumby said. It is believed the directorate will also employ underage patrons to test age restrictions at venues.

The move comes from implementations of late entry bans in Ballarat, Warrnambool and Bendigo were successful, according to the Government, seeing a reduction in alcohol-related crime.

The reaction from Police has been positive, with Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon embracing the moves. "We know the majority of alcohol related violence occurs on the streets as people move from venue to venue, not in the actual venues themselves," she said. According to the Herald Sun, VicHealth boss Todd Harper said the reforms were the most significant in decades.

Brian Kearney, from the Australian Hotels Association, tentatively supported the lockout, with the provision that lower-risk venues be excluded. The Director of Liquor Licensing has advised of some exemptions from the lockout, and that these will only be granted to restaurants, the Crown Casino floor and licensees with full club licenses such as RSLs.

The public reaction has been intense with newspaper websites getting hundreds of comments and several new groups and events on Facebook appearing including "OFFICIAL MELBOURNE 2AM LOCKOUT PETITION, sign up and send to everyone" and "I will party on Parliament House steps in protest against the 2am curfew". The latter tells members "by joining this group you pledge that If the 2am curfew comes into effect, you will leave the clubs, bars and pubs at 2am and protest on Parliament House steps every single friday night until the curfew is lifted." MelbournePubs.com has launched a website, 2amlockout.com, monitoring the discussion around this issue.

Source: Victorian Government, The Age 1, 2, 3 & Herald Sun.

Drunks cannot feel fear

According to The Washington Post, "a new brain scan study shows drinking actually dampens the biological ability to feel fear."

Source: Washington Post

Cabbies block Swanston and Flinders Street intersection

A group of around 300 Melbourne taxi drivers have blocked trams and road-traffic in the CBD as they closed off the intersection at Flinders and Swanston Streets from 6pm yesterday. The protests are for driver compensation, safety and respect. The catalyst being the violent stabbing of 23 year-old Jalvinder Singh, who is in a serious but stable condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The protesting cabbies demands have been listed verbatim by The Age:

"- Compensation for the victim and severe punishment for the criminal.
- Safety Screens should be a part of taxi Road Worthy.
- Taxi should be pre-paid round the clock.
- Special protection should be provided at specific railways stations and suburbs after hours prone to safety issues with people.
- All the complaints by migrants should be seriously adhered to by the Police.
- All the infringements for parking given to taxis during protest should be taken back."

Source: The Age & News.com.au

Sydney's alcohol-related crime doubles in a decade

"Everything is not fine," the NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters in Sydney yesterday. The NSW auditor-general's report found there were 20,475 alcohol-related assaults (ARAs) statewide in the 2006-07 financial year, up from 10,305 ARAs recorded in 1997-98. The commissioner also noted that 15 per cent of the state's licensed outlets were "problem hotels", he denied there was a shortage of police to oversee the hotels but did say a dedicated 30-person "alcohol law enforcement command" was being established.

Source: The Age

Were you at Bond Bar on Sunday morning?

Victoria Police are looking for witnesses to a violent brawl which occurred at Bond Bar, Bond Lane on Sunday morning around 2:15am. A man is alleged to have struck down a woman on the dance floor. The same man then smashed a glass bottle over another patron's head, starting a large brawl. Four men were hospitalised and conveyed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. A 21-year-old Warrenwood man remains in hospital awaiting plastic surgery to his face. No charges have been laid at this stage. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Victoria Police, The Age & ABC

2020 Summit to discuss alcohol violence

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said proposals to tackle the "national contagion" of alcohol abuse will be debated at this weekend's Australia 2020 summit. "It's time as a nation and as a community we decided to turn the corner on this because I think in many parts of the country, most parents would agree, it's getting out of hand."

A recent Roy Morgan telephone poll is also cited within The Age article, showing almost one in five Australians had endured alcohol-related violence or knew a friend or relative who had.

Source: The Age

Bad bars lose hours

Melbourne City Council is considering a plan similar to Sydney's Council - where licensed venues could have their trading hours reduced if they are shown to contribute to alcohol fueled violence or community damage. A similar measure was introduced by Sydney in January of this year, when it was discovered that 12% of inner-city hotels accounted for almost 60% of all assaults on hotel premises. The plan is said to have received a positive response from Liquor Licensing Victoria and Police, and has also been tentatively supported by the Australian Hotel Association (AHA).

A council submission of the plans to State Government is expected in November.

Source: The Age

Man arrested over strip-club shooting

Aaron Sindoni, a 23 year-old man from Pascoe Vale, was arrested this afternoon by Victoria Police. The arrest followed the shooting of a security guard, 43 year-old Sede Ferry, outside Larry Flint's Hustler Club in Brunswick at 1.50am this morning. Mr Sindoni will appear in Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Source: Herald Sun

Police vest overhaul

Victoria Police have called for tenders for new all-in-one slash, stab and bullet proof vests with better "load bearing" to reduce back injuries. The move to protect officers is seen as important as Police figures show assaults in Melbourne have jumped 41.4 per cent in the past five years to 31,020 in 2006/07.

Source: Herald Sun

Wet house for Footscray?

Maribyrnong Council is consider a "wet house" or "wet park" idea where people with chronic alcohol problems could drink safely, be offered support and be isolated from the rest of the community to minimize fights and civil disobedience. Councilor Michael Clark suggested the idea after visiting a similar project in London.

Cr Michael Clark said "having a wet house provides an environment where there is supervision, and their health and social needs can be attended to rather than just moving them along."

Alcohol policy consultant Mark Boyd said "wet houses" and "wet parks" had been successful overseas. "It's a much more practical response than just burying our heads and pretending it's all going to go away," he said.

Source: The Age

New York-style crime stoppers

The Herald Sun is reporting the Victorian police will adopt a New York-style mobile command truck and a police operation centre to combat anti-social behaviour in the CBD. Deputy Police Commissioner Simon Overland said the mobile command prime mover, to be stationed at the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets on Saturday and Sunday night, could accommodate up to 50 officers.

Britain's 24-hour drinking causing an increase in violence

In the three years after the 2005 introduction of more relaxed drinking laws in Britan, there has been an overall 4% increase in crimes reported between 3am and 6am, the Herald Sun reports. British Culture Secretary Andy Burnham claimed this was most likely a result of drink-fuelled offences.

The softer drinking laws were enacted to try and stop a rapidly increasing alcohol-related death rate - 6.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 1991 increased to 12.9 deaths per 100,000 people by 2005. The laws have seen a "slight fall" in the nation's overall alcohol consumption since 2005, but concern about an embedded binge drinking culture remain.