❓ Mrs. Harvey asks about the effect of police barring notices on antisocial violence in Northbridge. The Minister responds with statistics showing a decrease in various offences since their introduction, attributing it partly to the notices and licensee cooperation.
AnsweredQoN 338Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE BARRING NOTICES — ANTISOCIAL
BEHAVIOUR
338. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Minister for Racing and Gaming:
Alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour in our entertainment
districts has been a problem that the state government has put considerable
attention into resolving. The minister might recall that I mentioned this
matter to him late last year when one of my husband's —
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Excuse me!
One of my family business employees was the subject of an
assault in Northbridge and I think that this is an issue that is of concern to
all members. Could the minister therefore please update the house on the effect
that our police barring notices have had on antisocial violence in Northbridge?
BEHAVIOUR
338. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Minister for Racing and Gaming:
Alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour in our entertainment
districts has been a problem that the state government has put considerable
attention into resolving. The minister might recall that I mentioned this
matter to him late last year when one of my husband's —
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Excuse me!
One of my family business employees was the subject of an
assault in Northbridge and I think that this is an issue that is of concern to
all members. Could the minister therefore please update the house on the effect
that our police barring notices have had on antisocial violence in Northbridge?
AnswerView source ↗
Before I answer the question, and as I mentioned to the
Speaker, I want to briefly acknowledge the passing of Joe Pearce, who was a
great Western Australian and the uncle of the member for Perth. I want to
acknowledge that Joe was a World War II veteran and spent three years on the
Burma railway, played league football for Swan Districts Football Club before
and after the war, and was a great community person in Moulyinning down south. I want to acknowledge Joe's
passing. His whole family are well involved in hockey in Australia and have
some very famous family members. I give my sympathy to his family. Thank you
for allowing me to do that, Mr Speaker.
I thank the member
for Scarborough very much for the question. She has spoken to me about this
matter. I think everyone in this place shares the concern about antisocial
behaviour and violent behaviour et cetera, particularly in Northbridge and
other entertainment areas. The member made it clear that when it comes home to
us and happens to someone we know, we understand that this is very real and is,
therefore, an issue.
In answer to how
the government has approached this issue, I am on the record as saying that we
prefer to target the troublemakers rather than penalise the vast majority who
enjoy alcohol and a night out in a responsible manner. Three years ago,
therefore, I welcomed the introduction of prohibition orders and encouraged the
use of them as a tool to remove the very worst offenders from licensed
premises. Since then, more than 130 prohibition orders have been issued for the
worst offenders, including many charges laid against those involved in serious
glassing assaults.
The drawback with
prohibition orders is that they require show-cause proceedings and take a lot
of time. Therefore, in 2010, I introduced legislation to the house to establish
police barring notices—a less harsh but probably more efficient means
of targeting the less serious incidents of antisocial behaviour—enabling
us to give those who transgress some time ''on the bench'' and a
bit of a warning, really, so that they would not get into further trouble, and
to work with licensees on this matter. There were claims that these notices
would be unenforceable and would not work, but they have. They became
operational in January 2011 and by the end of April this year, 270 barring
notices had been issued by the police. That is a solid number. The police have
compared the crime statistics in Northbridge for the 12 months prior to the
introduction of barring notices with the statistics for the 12 months after the
introduction of barring notices, and there have been some very encouraging results.
I will just share a few with the house. The following statistics are for
offences that can be described as representing antisocial behaviour. Common
assaults in the Northbridge region are down by nine per cent; threatening
behaviour down by 37 per cent; disorderly conduct down by 44 per cent; and
liquor licensing offences down by 82 per cent. I credit a lot of licensees who
have worked closely with us and who have been very proactive—being
proactive is the best way to go—and have actually also helped. Also,
although we would not necessarily categorise the following offences as
antisocial behaviour, it is worth noting that sexual assaults are down by 18 per
cent; burglaries down by 18 per cent; and motor vehicle theft down by 20 per
cent.
These are significant
improvements. I am not as naive as to think that they are all as a result of
barring notices; of course other aspects are involved, such as the work of
licensees. However, when we compare those periods with the introduction period
of barring notices, there is no doubt that they are having a very good effect.
Having talked with the police and with licensees, I can say that they are very
pleased with them. There were also claims that barring notices would be
unenforceable. I let members know that since their introduction, police have
laid 37 charges for persons entering licensed premises in contravention of a
barring notice. So, for someone who is issued with a barring notice and who
flouts it, the chances are that they will get caught.
This is a good
result for everyone who wants to enjoy a night out without feeling threatened
and without having their night messed up. It is only one tool in a suite of
tools that we need to overcome these problems, but it is very encouraging for
the government, and we will continue to explore policies such as this that
contribute to a safer and healthier community.
Speaker, I want to briefly acknowledge the passing of Joe Pearce, who was a
great Western Australian and the uncle of the member for Perth. I want to
acknowledge that Joe was a World War II veteran and spent three years on the
Burma railway, played league football for Swan Districts Football Club before
and after the war, and was a great community person in Moulyinning down south. I want to acknowledge Joe's
passing. His whole family are well involved in hockey in Australia and have
some very famous family members. I give my sympathy to his family. Thank you
for allowing me to do that, Mr Speaker.
I thank the member
for Scarborough very much for the question. She has spoken to me about this
matter. I think everyone in this place shares the concern about antisocial
behaviour and violent behaviour et cetera, particularly in Northbridge and
other entertainment areas. The member made it clear that when it comes home to
us and happens to someone we know, we understand that this is very real and is,
therefore, an issue.
In answer to how
the government has approached this issue, I am on the record as saying that we
prefer to target the troublemakers rather than penalise the vast majority who
enjoy alcohol and a night out in a responsible manner. Three years ago,
therefore, I welcomed the introduction of prohibition orders and encouraged the
use of them as a tool to remove the very worst offenders from licensed
premises. Since then, more than 130 prohibition orders have been issued for the
worst offenders, including many charges laid against those involved in serious
glassing assaults.
The drawback with
prohibition orders is that they require show-cause proceedings and take a lot
of time. Therefore, in 2010, I introduced legislation to the house to establish
police barring notices—a less harsh but probably more efficient means
of targeting the less serious incidents of antisocial behaviour—enabling
us to give those who transgress some time ''on the bench'' and a
bit of a warning, really, so that they would not get into further trouble, and
to work with licensees on this matter. There were claims that these notices
would be unenforceable and would not work, but they have. They became
operational in January 2011 and by the end of April this year, 270 barring
notices had been issued by the police. That is a solid number. The police have
compared the crime statistics in Northbridge for the 12 months prior to the
introduction of barring notices with the statistics for the 12 months after the
introduction of barring notices, and there have been some very encouraging results.
I will just share a few with the house. The following statistics are for
offences that can be described as representing antisocial behaviour. Common
assaults in the Northbridge region are down by nine per cent; threatening
behaviour down by 37 per cent; disorderly conduct down by 44 per cent; and
liquor licensing offences down by 82 per cent. I credit a lot of licensees who
have worked closely with us and who have been very proactive—being
proactive is the best way to go—and have actually also helped. Also,
although we would not necessarily categorise the following offences as
antisocial behaviour, it is worth noting that sexual assaults are down by 18 per
cent; burglaries down by 18 per cent; and motor vehicle theft down by 20 per
cent.
These are significant
improvements. I am not as naive as to think that they are all as a result of
barring notices; of course other aspects are involved, such as the work of
licensees. However, when we compare those periods with the introduction period
of barring notices, there is no doubt that they are having a very good effect.
Having talked with the police and with licensees, I can say that they are very
pleased with them. There were also claims that barring notices would be
unenforceable. I let members know that since their introduction, police have
laid 37 charges for persons entering licensed premises in contravention of a
barring notice. So, for someone who is issued with a barring notice and who
flouts it, the chances are that they will get caught.
This is a good
result for everyone who wants to enjoy a night out without feeling threatened
and without having their night messed up. It is only one tool in a suite of
tools that we need to overcome these problems, but it is very encouraging for
the government, and we will continue to explore policies such as this that
contribute to a safer and healthier community.
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