DV surges as police move out

DOMESTIC violence incidents in Alice Springs spiked after police were called away from temporary beats at bottle shops last week, the head of the NT Police Association Paul McCue says.

The police officers’ union has consistently argued against having officers stationed at bottle shops and serving as pseudo-security guards.

In an opinion piece, published on P12 of today’s Sunday Territorian, Mr McCue acknowledged that the temporary police beats had been effective in stopping the sale of alcohol and in turn reducing harm.

“If you decrease the supply or levels of access, people can’t get the grog they want,” Mr McCue said.

But Mr McCue also argues that keeping police stationed at the point of sale is unsustainable and diverts police from other duties.

“Grog is often the golden thread that ties together callout after call-out for our police, across the whole Territory, both remotely and in major centres, Mr McCue said.

“But as some of the community look to police as the sole solution to control alcohol supply, perhaps it’s about time we look to the source as well.

“I’m talking about the people who profit from the sale of the takeaway liquor, the people who legislate and those other agencies who are employed – by the public purse – to ensure that the takeaway alcohol outlets are following the letter of the law.

“If we, as the public, are inconvenienced to a small degree, so be it. It shouldn’t be easy to access alcohol. Let’s make it tougher, but fair.”

Mr McCue’s full opinion piece can be read on P13