Questions raised over public intoxication decriminalisation

Public intoxication will be decriminalised from November in Victoria, but questions have been raised about how the reform will work in Geelong.

Police association boss Wayne Gatt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Public intoxication will be decriminalised from November in Victoria, but questions have been raised about how the reform will work in Geelong.

Police Association of Victoria secretary, Wayne Gatt, said members across the state had expressed concern in regards to exactly what their role would be when reforms come in.

“The government first said that police would have no involvement in dealing with people found drunk in public,” he said.

“They then said police would be used as ‘second responders’.

“This is representative of the lack of planning and clarity that has characterised the government’s handling of this reform.”

The state government recently announced a 20-bed sobering centre would be established in Collingwood.

Mr Gatt said: “If Geelong doesn’t get a sobering up facility in the next 90 days, where do the allied health services called out to attend those found drunk in public, take these people? To Collingwood?”

According to the health department website, there would be dedicated outreach and place of safety services for Aboriginal people in Melbourne and regional locations; and a general service in Melbourne.

A state government spokesman said it was finalising the details of the full statewide model, including services located in regional areas.

“This new model will improve community safety and provide a health-led response for people who are intoxicated,” he said.

There were 148 drunk and disorderly in public offences recorded in Greater Geelong in the 12 months to March 2023.

While this was up from 139 the year prior, it was a significant reduction from the 519 in the 12 months to March 2014, according to Crime Statistics Agency data.

There are four trial sites for the new reforms across Victoria, including Castlemaine and Shepparton regionally.

It’s understood data and feedback from the trial sites is being used to refine the new service model.

A Victoria Police spokesman said it continued to work through the changes with other agencies, including lead agency the Department of Health.

“As part of this, we will be assessing the impact of these changes upon our operations and members,” he said.

The reform aims to reduce Aboriginal deaths in custody.

The number of people arrested for being drunk in Victoria fell from 20,751 in the 12 months to March 2009 to 3746 in the 12 months to March 2023.

It’s understood this it attributed to initiatives and early intervention practices, such as ensuring a person can get home safely, assisted by a friend or family member.

Originally published as Questions raised over public intoxication decriminalisation