Almost 100 people have been arrested for assault in the Sunshine CBD in the past nine months following the introduction of new powers which allow police to ban drunk, disorderly and violent residents for up to 72 hours.
The police powers were extended for a further year in September. But the Sunshine Business Association has raised concerns that they are a clear “conflict of interest” with the number of liquor licences being approved in the area.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) determines designated areas in which police can enforce the ban. It takes into account incidents of alcohol-related violence and disorder around licensed premises in certain locations.
Police can ban residents from the designated area for up to 72 hours for offences including drunkenness, assaults, destroying or damaging property and failing to leave licensed premises – and they can seek a court order to ban repeat offenders for up to 12 months.
There were 94 assault-related offences, 76 charges of disorderly and offensive conduct and four public nuisance offences in Sunshine’s CBD area in the first nine months of the powers being in place, the Crime Statistics Agency revealed.
An application to extend the ban was made by Victoria Police to prevent alcohol-related unsocial behaviour that has “a significant impact on the amenity of the area”.
Sunshine Business Association president Carson Luk said the ban has made a difference, but he called for liquor licence reform.
“The town centre is at saturation point with the amount of bottle shops selling packaged liquor,” he said. “We see a conflict of interest between VCGLR’s granting of liquor licences – which is mainly market driven – and the police’s initiative to extend the current designated area.”
New Sunshine police Inspector Dallas Normington welcomed the extension, saying it has helped clean up the streets.
The designated area is bordered by Ballarat Road to the north, Derby Road to the south, Anderson Road to the west, and Whitty and Maryvale streets to the east.
Victoria Police, the Crime Statistics Agency, the VCGLR and Brimbank council could not provide the number of bans under the new law.
