Ten Brimbank licensed venues will compile and share a “banned patrons list” under a new agreement between police, Brimbank council and clubs.
The Brimbank District Accord is a “response to community and police concerns regarding alcohol-related harm, property damage, violence and loss of amenity”, according to a council report.
Assaults in Brimbank have increased in the past four years; there were 1155 incidents in 2010-11 compared to 1347 in 2014-15.
Under the accord, a patron banned from one Brimbank venue will also be banned at the other nine participating clubs.
The signed-up venues are the Kealba Hotel, Sunshine RSL, Derrimut Hotel, Westend Market Hotel, Glengala Hotel, Deer Park Hotel, Club Italia, Watergardens Hotel, St Albans Hotel and Taylors Lakes Hotel.
Council community wellbeing director Neil Whiteside said the accord would allow clubs to share information about banned patrons who have “displayed unacceptable antisocial behaviour, either inside the licensed premises or within the vicinity of the premises”.
Clubs will also be encouraged to advise police of any special events likely to significantly increase the numbers of people in their area.
Regular safety audits will be conducted of venues, and clubs will be encouraged to maintain incident records and ensure adherence to limits on numbers of patrons per venue.
A Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation spokeswoman said most accords in Victoria had banning policies.
“If an individual is banned under an accord banning policy, then the individual is banned from all venues that are members of that accord,” she said.
“The accord’s banning policy must meet principles of fairness, including providing a list of venues where the ban is enforced, written banning notices such as letters to the banned person and the ability to request a review of the banning decision.”
The accord, the result of a Brimbank liquor forum in June, will be officially launched on September 15.
