Peninsula top cop wades into lock out law debate, calling city licensees ‘short sighted’

THE Peninsula’s top cop has slammed licensees in the city for being “short sighted” over the new controversial lock out laws.

Police question a man in Manly Corso. The man seemed to be Intoxicated. Police, drinking.

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THE Peninsula’s top cop has slammed licensees in the city for being “short sighted” over the new controversial lock out laws.

Northern Beaches local area commander Superintendent Dave Darcy said licensees need to simply adjust their businses strategy.

“...but instead, they’re thumping their hands on the desk and saying I want to be able to make my maximum profit on a friday and saturday night by filling this place full of young people with alcohol.”

Dave Evans at his Hugos restaurant in Manly which attracts are wide demographic of customers. Picture: Braden Fastier

Supt Darcy spoke at a Manly Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday morning on Manly’s success with curbing alcohol fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour.

Manly hit rock bottom around 8 years ago, with glassings being reported most weekends.

Supt Darcy said the majority of lockouts in Manly are voluntary. “It wasn’t a fight,” he said.

“It was licensees working out what was the most sustainable way of doing business, providing a wider diversity of offerings, not just grog.”

He said while some pub owners took a profit hit by changing their operations, it’s been highly lucrative in the long term.

Hugo’s owner Dave Evans said Supt Darcy’s initiative should have been implemented in the city in a similar way.

“The problem is the State Government interfered and set up a policy that no one was financially ready for,” he said.

“The difference with Manly is they’ve been chipping away at the issue and that’s the right way to do it.”

Manly Wharf Hotel does a roaring trade during the day and night.

Mr Evans said Manly has dodged a bullet with the lock out laws.

“Supt Darcy has been the main architect of how to make manly a community that can have self managed policies,” he said.

Hotel Steyne General Manager and licensee Steve O’Sullivan said they have grown since the crackdown.

“The hotel has changed its focus from five years ago.”

“Because of the perception and reality of reduced violence it’s now more accessible for families.”

Manly Wharf Hotel General Manager and Licensee Justin Tynan said they do just as much trade during the day as they do at night, and they don’t see any point these days trading past midnight.