Boozed crime targeted

Palmerston North police will crack down on booze-fuelled crime tonight during a trans-Tasman operation aimed at educating offenders about alcohol abuse.

Operation Unite – a combined New Zealand and Australia campaign – will involve police targeting drink-drivers and alcohol-related disorder in the city over a 12-hour period starting at 6pm.

The inner-city liquor ban will also be strictly enforced, while pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants and liquor stores will be spot-checked to ensure alcohol is not being sold to minors.

Palmerston North Senior Sergeant Cliff Brown said extra staff had been called in, while support would be provided by Maori wardens, community patrollers and District Licensing Agency staff.

Offenders would still be punished for their actions, but Mr Brown said the operation was geared towards raising awareness and educating people about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

"People coming through being processed for drink-driving or arrested for offences where alcohol was a factor will be given information and encouraged to look at their drinking behaviour, and the consequences of their actions when they are intoxicated," he said.

Drunk offenders often had "mixed" reactions to the brochures, he said.

"But if we turn even small numbers of people around in terms of moderating their alcohol intake to a level where they are actually making sensible decisions, then it's got to be a success.

"That's potentially one, two, three, four lives saved because of bad decisions not being made because of alcohol."

Televisions playing "Think Drink" clips will be put in three off-licence premises – The Mill, Wholesale Liquor and Target Liquor.

"It's promoting the message that buying alcohol for young people doesn't buy them a good time."

A drunken brawl during the Manawatu Turbos match against Wellington was an example of how alcohol abuse could ruin events for other people, he said.

"That's a small group of people spoiling a fantastic day out for a large number of our community. Members of the community shouldn't be concerned about going into our city and enjoying our nightlife because of drunken louts running amok."

Senior Sergeant Nick Dobson, of the Central District traffic support unit, said booze buses would be deployed to urban and rural areas in Palmerston North and New Plymouth.

"Basically with respect to drink-driving, it's always a zero tolerance.

"If you're over, you're over, if you're under, you're under.

"If people want to misbehave while they are drinking, then they can expect to face the consequences."

Another joint operation is planned for later in the year.

- © Fairfax NZ News