Hon Barbara Scott questions the Minister for Police and Emergency Services regarding the disbandment of the police liquor and gaming branch and the current practices of police in monitoring licensed premises. The Minister provides answers sourced from the Police Service, outlining the reasons for the disbandment, current practices, and training provided to officers.

AnsweredQoN 333Legislative Council
Asked
12 May 2004
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

POLICE, LICENSED PREMISES VISITS
Given that 76 per cent to 78 per cent of all jobs that police attend across the board are alcohol related, I ask - (1) Why was the police liquor and gaming branch disbanded? (2) Is the minister aware of the duties of police, as outlined, and clearly identified within the Liquor Licensing Act? (3) Are uniformed police from suburban police stations instructed to visit licensed premises to detect breaches against the Liquor Licensing Act? (4) In reality, how often do those uniformed police go inside licensed premises and are the times recorded? (5) If they do visit licensed premises, are they trained and do they have the knowledge to identify breaches of the Act, as did the police who were previously given those duties within the liquor and gaming branch? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(1) Why was the police liquor and gaming branch disbanded? (2) Is the minister aware of the duties of police, as outlined, and clearly identified within the Liquor Licensing Act? (3) Are uniformed police from suburban police stations instructed to visit licensed premises to detect breaches against the Liquor Licensing Act? (4) In reality, how often do those uniformed police go inside licensed premises and are the times recorded? (5) If they do visit licensed premises, are they trained and do they have the knowledge to identify breaches of the Act, as did the police who were previously given those duties within the liquor and gaming branch? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(2) Is the minister aware of the duties of police, as outlined, and clearly identified within the Liquor Licensing Act? (3) Are uniformed police from suburban police stations instructed to visit licensed premises to detect breaches against the Liquor Licensing Act? (4) In reality, how often do those uniformed police go inside licensed premises and are the times recorded? (5) If they do visit licensed premises, are they trained and do they have the knowledge to identify breaches of the Act, as did the police who were previously given those duties within the liquor and gaming branch? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(3) Are uniformed police from suburban police stations instructed to visit licensed premises to detect breaches against the Liquor Licensing Act? (4) In reality, how often do those uniformed police go inside licensed premises and are the times recorded? (5) If they do visit licensed premises, are they trained and do they have the knowledge to identify breaches of the Act, as did the police who were previously given those duties within the liquor and gaming branch? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(4) In reality, how often do those uniformed police go inside licensed premises and are the times recorded? (5) If they do visit licensed premises, are they trained and do they have the knowledge to identify breaches of the Act, as did the police who were previously given those duties within the liquor and gaming branch? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(5) If they do visit licensed premises, are they trained and do they have the knowledge to identify breaches of the Act, as did the police who were previously given those duties within the liquor and gaming branch? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following response - (1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(1) The Police Service advises that the police liquor and gaming branch was disbanded in 1996 as part of the restructure of the Police Service under the DELTA program. Other branches and squads disbanded at that time included the armed robbery and motor squads of the criminal investigation branch. The functions and resources of the liquor and gaming branch were devolved to each of the police districts. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(2) Yes. (3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(3) Yes. Districts are supplied with alcohol and drug advisers to deal with liquor and gaming licensing and related policing matters. The state alcohol and drug coordination unit provides a whole-of-service and interagency advisory and coordination function on matters related to licit and illicit substance control. (4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(4) The Police Service advises that officers visit and inspect licensed premises intermittently and attend on a needs basis. These visits are recorded manually. (5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.
(5) The Police Service advises that training is provided at the Police Academy and at district level.

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