City traders call for drastic action to end booze-fuelled violence

An imminent return of international visitors has Cairns City traders calling for radical action to end drunken brawls, vandalism, chroming and public urination. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

AN imminent return of international visitors has Cairns City traders calling for radical action to end drunken brawls, vandalism, chroming and public urination in the CBD.

Most mornings police have their hands full moving on drunken itinerants and emptying liquor bottles at Shields St.

One cafe worker described violence, begging, abusive language and drug use an “embarrassment” to the city.

Police at work in Shields St in the centre of Cairns. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Many bottle shops, through their own initiative, have banned cask and fortified wine sales before 4pm but the move has done little to rein in public drunkenness amid the homeless sleeping rough in the CBD.

Wild Thyme cafe on Shields St is on the front line of a running battle in the city centre.

Staff last week were forced to intervene when a drunken man decided to take a leak in pot plant metres from customers enjoying an alfresco-style brew.

Police confiscate alcohol and move people on from the Shields St pedestrian mall in the Cairns CBD on Friday. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Wild Thyme operations manager Catherine Pacey said the situation had escalated recently.

“Day to day there’s always at least one incident on the street ... drunk and disorderly, having a punch on or coming in and hassling customers or begging for money,” she said.

“It’s an untidy look, if you are an international tourist and see people swearing and drunk at 11am it’s not a great impression of the city.”

A recent three-day intensive operation targeting anti-social behaviour in the CBD resulted in 29 notices to appear and arrests, 44 charges, five move-on directions, 10 drug diversions and 31 litres of alcohol being tipped out.

Ms Pacey would like to see Cairns Regional Council security guards empowered to take a harder line and suggested indigenous elders could be enlisted to affect change.

Asked if a total ban on grog sales in the CBD would make difference she said “it’s not a bad idea.”

“Our problem is finding 15 goon sacks in the garden from a party overnight,” she said.

“The Office of Liquor and Gaming is doing a great job to restrict the sales (but perhaps) opening bottle shops at a later time could work.

Police arrest a man on Shields St after allegedly causing a disturbance. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“We have to be able to move the people out of our city centre.

“I think there needs to be more spot fines for drunken disorderly.”

A Liquor and Gaming spokesman said there’s no specific conditions on licensees in the CBD but most bottle shops had implemented a strategy to reduce the risk of harm through abuse of alcohol.

“Where complaints are received OLGR will investigate. OLGR work closely with local police and licensees in an effort to prevent local issues and address them where they arise,” he said.

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Originally published as City traders call for drastic action to end booze-fuelled violence