-
Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
Christmas revellers who overindulge are in police sights this weekend, with a nationwide campaign aimed at curbing drunk and violent behaviour underway.
Operation Unite will see a co-ordinated blitz in New Zealand and Australia on what police say is a trans-Tasman problem of alcohol-fuelled street crime and anti-social behaviour.
Extra police will be on evening patrols in cities and towns across New Zealand.
The plan has gone down well with locals at Auckland's busy Viaduct Harbour, who are all too familiar with the problems police are trying to stamp out.
People ONE News spoke to say the main problem is young people who are very intoxicated, and say it will help if police can intervene before problems start.
Across the weekend, every policing district will put more officers out on the beat in a bid to curb alcohol-related abuse and violence.
Police Assistant Commissioner Viv Rickard says it is not about
spoiling people's fun.
"We recognise that people want to enjoy themselves. All we're
asking is that you take responsibility for your friends, your
family, your workmates. Make sure that you help them get home
safely," he says.
It is about prevention, Rickard says.
"At three in the morning after people have had a skinful, it's too late."
Rickard says police take 21,000 intoxicated people a year home, or to police cells because they are too drunk to remember where they live. And he says young people are over-represented in alcohol related arrests made by police.
Police are promising a relaxed approach, one the Hospitality Association says will be vital in getting revellers onside.
"We're certainly looking for community policing rather than team policing. If we have an intense team policing approach it has the potential to become the aggravator and actually cause more problems than it's fixed," says the association's Bruce Robertson.
Inspector Derek Erasmus of Christchurch Police says police will be patient.
"The police on the street are very patient in dealing with drunk people on a Friday or a Saturday night. We just have to use our discretion and make sure we're being careful with people," he says.
But police say their plans are tailor made and while Auckland police are already out in force, Christchurch will wait until Saturday night.
"We have a particular issue with people getting pre-loaded or
tanked up on alcohol before they come to town. Those are the people
who cause us the most trouble," says Erasmus.
Some on Christchurch's strip say getting rid of the drunks would be
an early Christmas present.
One man says 10 years ago there wasn't a problem, but now you wouldn't want to be in town after 11.00pm.
Meanwhile, Police Association president Greg O'Connor says in places such as Christchurch, youth aid officers who don't usually work at the weekend are being taken out of the back offices to join the operation.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
