Police aim at 'alcohol crime'

A massive trans-Tasman police operation against alcohol-fuelled crime next month will put thousands of extra police on duty.

Operation Unite is described as the largest combined police undertaking in Australasian history and will take place over two days, December 11 and 12. In spite of the short time frame, police are warning they will make the most of it.

It will see overt and covert licensing operations, random breath testings, mounted police and canine units on patrol.

Senior Sergeant Mark Offen of the Timaru police said the operation would coincide with Mid-South Canterbury's overall policing plan, in which additional staff are patrolling rural areas, manning short duration checkpoints around the district and reining in alcohol, disorder, traffic and violence-related offences.

The extra staff will continue working in the Mid-South Canterbury district through to the new year, Mr Offen said.

Operation Unite was launched yesterday, with police chiefs from around Australia and New Zealand gathering in Perth.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the December 11 and 12 operation was "the biggest combined police undertaking ever". Thousands of extra police are being deployed to major centres in both countries to tackle alcohol-induced crime.

New Zealand Police commissioner Howard Broad said alcohol was a major driver of problems police have to confront.

"Alcohol, particularly in combination with drugs, impacts on many aspects of policing, including violent offending, homicides, drink driving, family violence incidents, accommodating intoxicated people in police cells and incidents or offending involving young people.

"While legislation and enforcement are key, changing the drinking culture is crucial. The `drink to get drunk' culture cannot continue, or become the norm, and that is why we are taking decisive action. While we cannot arrest our way out of this problem, we agree there is a need for stronger policing."

Mr Scipione turned to YouTube to warn the community that both countries' police commissioners have "had enough" of alcohol-related crime and violence.

"Now for the first time police commissioners from every Australian state and territory and also New Zealand have come together," he said in his YouTube address.

"Across NSW, Australia and New Zealand we have declared two national days of action.

"Police will be cracking down on alcohol violence and crime, there will be overt and covert licensing operations, random breath testings, mounted police and dog squad police on patrol.

"At train stations and on trains police will be checking that law-abiding commuters are not being subject to drunken attacks and intimidation."

Mr Scipione said he was urging everyone to put some meaning into the phrase "personal responsibility".

- © Fairfax NZ News