ALBURY’S Mayor is prepared to try a 1.30am closing for the city’s pubs and clubs — if police can show it will reduce alcohol-fuelled late night violence.
Alice Glachan says the community has continually called for action from police.
She says if there are examples that early closing times reduce violence then the community should be prepared to give it a go.
“As a member of the community I cannot blame police for this proposal because we have been saying, for some time, that they need to do something,” she said.
“If the police have evidence to say this can work then a trial period is possible but they need to engage with the council, liquor accord, licensees and the community at large.
“Clearly we don’t want to go backwards.
“Police need to check their facts and make sure this will reduce the violence.
“While the statistics suggest that we have seen the problem lessen, clearly there is still some way to move forward because one knifing, one youth who dies through either drugs or alcohol, is simply one too many.”
On Saturday The Border Mail revealed that police were looking at a compulsory 1.30am closure for all late-trading Albury pubs and nightclubs in a bid to curb alcohol-fuelled violence in the city.
The plans have resulted in publican backlash and angered many under-30s but member for Albury Greg Aplin says licensees were well aware that a 1.30am closing was a fall-back position if the Dean Street violence continued.
“That was always on the cards when this was discussed,” he said.
“Clearly the lockout has helped but the repetitive nature of these incidents means drastic action is still required.
“I would need to be convinced that it has worked elsewhere and the fallout from people spilling onto the street en masse doesn’t lead to more violence.”
Mr Aplin said there was also a strong argument for more police.
“But whether they could stop what are most often random and spontaneous acts of violence is unknown,” he said.
“Of course what happens if the 1.30am shutdown is implemented with little or no impact on the violence?
“There is a question about whether earlier closing times will do anything to reduce the intake of alcohol or the uncontrollable nature of the people involved in the violence.”
The 3am lockout that began in 2004 was brought forward to 1.30am less than 18 months later.
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