Crime Study To Research Alcohol Link

Newcastle Herald

Thursday May 18, 2006

By DAN PROUDMAN Chief Police Reporter

A NEWCASTLE police study of alcohol-related crime will look at whether it should be tackled differently in towns compared to cities and if it differs from the bush to the coast.

A team of specialist police from the intelligence and licensing units of the Newcastle local area command have been asked to look nationwide for ways to minimise alcohol-related crime.

Newcastle police chief Superintendent Charles Haggett said the team was collecting data from across the Northern Region, which stretches from the Hawkesbury River to the Queensland border.

"They will collect it and look at the best practices across the region; there might be different but successful ways of dealing with it on the coast compared to areas not on the coast," Superintendent Haggett said.

He said the research was in its infancy but a report would be made to regional headquarters this year and any new strategies could be implemented then.

The research includes gathering feedback from other local area commands and possibly community groups.

The officers will research other entertainment precincts that relate to Newcastle, such as Kings Cross, Manly and Wollongong.

Superintendent Haggett said the research was part of planning for the influx of crowds to the inner city during summer.

He said he was working with the police union on a plan to use up to four officers on foot patrols on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the local area command.

The command operates under the first response agreement, which sets down in writing the minimum number of officers to be used on the front line at any given time.

Superintendent Haggett said beat police could patrol restaurant precincts such as Hamilton's Beaumont Street before heading to the inner city for late-night patrols.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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