Police patrolling the city have been renewing their focus on licensed venues, to ensure patrons are safe and venues are complying with their liquor licencing responsibilities.
Over 140 licensed venues have been checked over the last several weekends in Melbourne, with the focus on ensuring venues are serving alcohol responsibly and providing a safe environment.
With venues having spent most of their time focused on Covid-19 compliance over the last two years, it’s important that compliance with the Liquor Control Act remains a priority.
Working collaboratively with the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) and the City of Melbourne, police have been running highly visible patrols in and around licensed premises over the last two weekends, which will continue for several more weekends.
Some of the priority issues that have emerged over the last two weekends include:
• Ensuring staff are adequately trained to manage intoxicated people
• Checking licensees have current Responsible Service of Alcohol certificates and are complying with the conditions
• Ensuring venues have the required number of security personnel with valid licenses
• Safety, public order, and amenity in and around licensed premises
The focus on licensed venues over the last several weekend has delivered the below results:
• 143 licensed premises walk-throughs and checks
• Engaged with over 250 licensees, managers, security staff and patrons
• Submitted 24 Licensed Premises Incident Reports. The majority relate to patron behaviour and interactions with security, and pleasingly only a small number relate to liquor licensing issues.
The operation involves officers from the Melbourne Divisional Licensing Unit, State Liquor Unit and the Melbourne Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team.
It builds on the work already being conducted across the city by the Melbourne Divisional Licensing Unit, which is regularly engaged with local hospitality venues and local liquor accords to ensure safe practices are occurring at venues.
Some notable incidents from the operation include:
• Police were called to a venue on Smith Street, Collingwood after staff had ejected someone from the venue. Police were told that staff asked the patron to slow down consumption of alcohol due to them showing signs of intoxication. The patron and her friend responded aggressively and were escorted from the venue but continued to try and gain entry again. Staff had to physically stop the pair from entering.
• Officers from the State Liquor Unit checked a venue on Canning Street, Carlton North and discovered their Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate expired in 2018.
• Police conducted a check on a venue on Smith Street, Fitzroy, observing a queue that was blocking entrances to several other venues and causing amenity issues on the street. The Divisional Licensing Unit will follow up with the venue to ensure the issue can be resolved in future.
Quotes attributable to Melbourne Divisional Commander, Superintendent Sharon McKinnon:
“Melbourne venues are overwhelmingly safe places and pleasingly we are seeing the vast majority complying with their obligations – we just want to ensure this remains the case while Melbourne’s nightlife continues to thrive.”
“With Covid compliance being a major focus for venues over the last two years, it’s important we don’t lose sight of other regulatory requirements that ensure responsible alcohol service, well trained staff and providing overall safe environments.”
“The issue of oversupplying alcohol has broader implications than just one intoxicated person – it can lead to devastating consequences from street violence, road trauma and assaults, which is why we are focused on the issue.”
“Police regularly run checks of venues and work with local council and relevant authorities to ensure licensed venues are well managed, staff are well trained, patrons are safe, and amenity of the area is maintained.”
