Revealed: Police, Adelaide City Council sank Oval beer can sales move in 2020
The police union is demanding answers from SA’s top cop as to why their safety fears over footy tinnies were sidelined.
SA News
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An attempt by Adelaide Oval management two years ago to sell beer in cans failed after police and the Adelaide City Council opposed the move over public safety fears.
The Advertiser can reveal the move in July 2020 was opposed by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and the ACC on the grounds it was against the public interest, was a risk to public safety and could result in public disturbance.
That stance is in contrast to the position taken by police this week in agreeing to the move following discussions that resulted in conditions including a review taking place in 12 months and that warnings against using cans as projectiles and potential penalties be prominently displayed at Adelaide Oval.
The move, which will be implemented in several months, has angered the Police Association of SA which fears cans will be used as missiles against police, spectators and players by drunk patrons.
PASA president Mark Carroll has written to Mr Stevens seeking clarification on why the latest application was not opposed, describing the agreed safety measures discussions as “window dressing.’’
“We are both bewildered and disappointed this application was not opposed, just as it was two years ago,’’ he said.
“The commissioner has an onus to provide a safe workplace for police and an obligation to eliminate dangers to the public. Arming an alcohol-fuelled individual with a full beer can is an obvious potential danger to both police officers and the public.’’
SAPOL Assistant Commissioner Linda Fellows said in 2020 Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority was asked to supply further information in response to SAPOL’s concerns, but no information was provided in respect of any measures that would be put in place to ensure the safety of patrons.
1n the 2022 application, police asked for more information about public safety concerns and were subsequently provided with these details, Ms Fellows said.
“ ... agreement was reached on additional conditions which could be applied to mitigate the safety concerns,’’ she said.
“These included a 12 month trial of the sale of cans, additional security arrangements and the appreciation that AOSMA were not ceasing service of alcohol in cups and could cease service of cans at any time if SAPOL held concerns during any particular event.’’
Ms Fellows said in withdrawing its objection SAPOL also took into account the existing arrangements for sale of alcohol in cans and crowd behaviour at other large public events that included the Adelaide Oval Test Match Village Green, the Adelaide Oval Icehouse concert, Womad, Gluttony, Superloop in 2020 and SANFL games.
In her reasons for declining the licence variation in 2020 LLC hearings delegate Vicki Brunello stated she sought further information from AOSMA but no further details on “measures it will put in place to ensure the safety of its patrons’’ was provided.
“I am not satisfied on the information provided that the applicant has put in place any measures to mitigate that risk and on that basis cannot be satisfied that it is appropriate to grant the application,’’ she stated at the time.
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