Booze bans proposed by police and council in crackdown on hoodlums and hoons
A STRING of new areas will become alcohol-free in “hoodlum” hot spots as part of a council and police sting on anti-social behaviour.
Manly
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A STRING of new areas will become alcohol-free in “hoodlum” hot spots as part of a council and police sting on anti-social behaviour.
Problems with young people and car enthusiasts at the southern end of Palm Beach has led police to request a 24-hour alcohol free zone.
It is among changes proposed by Northern Beaches Council which will see zones installed or modified across seven suburbs — Church Point, Newport, Mona Vale, Palm Beach, Avalon Beach, Freshwater and Dee Why
“This area is renowned for hoodlums to congregate, drink alcohol and commit offences in their vehicles,” police said in a letter to the council.
Licensing sergeant Robbie Beazley said police hoped it would be a deterrent. “There is definitely car enthusiasts that get up there and flaunt road rules,” he said.
“They aren’t going out there in empty cars, passengers are drinking and perhaps egging on the drivers.”
Another seven areas will have their alcohol free zones reinstated for another four years — Warringah Mall bus stop; Narrabeen Lakes, Belrose, Collaroy CBD, Forestville shopping precinct, near Cromer Community Centre and parts of Belrose.
Alcohol-free zones apply only to public roads, footpaths and public carparks and are in force 24/7.
Northern Beaches Council customer and corporate general manager Helen Lever said: “We want to keep the community safe and alcohol-free zones ... have proven to be effective ways of doing that.”
Police also called for an easing of alcohol-free zones in Mona Vale. Sgt Beazley said most offenders were under-18 and would be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
The letter also recommended an increased to one zone in Freshwater which the council had proposed.
The police have also request an increase to alcohol-free zones in the Dee Why CBD “due to the ongoing issue of people drinking in and around the street after purchasing alcohol from one of four bottle shops”.
Sgt Beazley said police wanted to encourage a more family friendly environment in Dee Why.
“With the new infrastructure being built around Dee Why focusing on park areas and playgrounds, new areas for young parents and kids, we are thinking alcohol is not the best thing to put into the mix,” he said.
The proposal is open to public comment until October 2. For more information go to Northern Beaches Council website.
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