❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about nightclubs copying IDs, falsely claiming it's a police requirement. The Attorney General denies awareness of police concerns and clarifies it's not a police initiative, but an industry practice for ID verification and barring unwanted patrons.
AnsweredQoN 4648Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Attorney General aware of the growing concern, to the Western Australia Police and the Justices of the Peace at Curtin House, with the copying and storing of passports and drivers’ licenses by nightclubs in Perth?
(2) Is the Attorney General aware that many nightclubs in Perth are telling patrons that it is a Police requirement that they have copies of their passports and licenses in order for them to enter, when it is not; and
(a) if not, will the Attorney General request that his Department investigate these concerns and stop this potentially dangerous practice as soon as possible?
(3) Will the Attorney General organise a public campaign to educate patrons that this is not a Police requirement, is in fact a breach of privacy and potentially dangerous and that patrons should only have to show proof of age cards available from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to nightclub staff?
(2) Is the Attorney General aware that many nightclubs in Perth are telling patrons that it is a Police requirement that they have copies of their passports and licenses in order for them to enter, when it is not; and
(a) if not, will the Attorney General request that his Department investigate these concerns and stop this potentially dangerous practice as soon as possible?
(3) Will the Attorney General organise a public campaign to educate patrons that this is not a Police requirement, is in fact a breach of privacy and potentially dangerous and that patrons should only have to show proof of age cards available from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to nightclub staff?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 March 2011
Response time
27 days
(1) I am not aware of this being an issue of concern to WA Police.
(2) As this relates to the ministerial portfolio responsibilities of the Minister for Police the following has been provided by the Police Minister's office.
Police are not aware of this, however, a number of licensed premises in Northbridge, Fremantle and other entertainment precincts have id scanning machines at the entrance to their premises. The machines are used to id patrons, check their ages and is also used as a record for the premises of any people they evict or refuse entry to so when they front up the next time the machine matches their details and they are refused entry. A licensee has the right to require any person to produce evidence of age before gaining entry to the licensed premises.
The following forms of identification are the only forms acceptable as evidence of age:
- a current Australian driver's license with a photograph;
- a current passport with a photograph; or
- a Western Australian Proof of Age Card.
(a) The Department of the Attorney General does not possess investigative powers. The Police Minister's office advise that this is an initiative of the industry. As such, it has not been driven by police nor is it a requirement of their liquor license.
(3) Public campaigns to educate individuals as to police requirements are not a responsibility of the Attorney General
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(2) As this relates to the ministerial portfolio responsibilities of the Minister for Police the following has been provided by the Police Minister's office.
Police are not aware of this, however, a number of licensed premises in Northbridge, Fremantle and other entertainment precincts have id scanning machines at the entrance to their premises. The machines are used to id patrons, check their ages and is also used as a record for the premises of any people they evict or refuse entry to so when they front up the next time the machine matches their details and they are refused entry. A licensee has the right to require any person to produce evidence of age before gaining entry to the licensed premises.
The following forms of identification are the only forms acceptable as evidence of age:
- a current Australian driver's license with a photograph;
- a current passport with a photograph; or
- a Western Australian Proof of Age Card.
(a) The Department of the Attorney General does not possess investigative powers. The Police Minister's office advise that this is an initiative of the industry. As such, it has not been driven by police nor is it a requirement of their liquor license.
(3) Public campaigns to educate individuals as to police requirements are not a responsibility of the Attorney General
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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