Resistance to change East Point booze curfew to 7pm is a slap in the face to police

There is no need for alcohol to be consumed at East Point Reserve after 7pm

East Point for Queens Birthday public holiday. Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

• Darwin council rejects calls to reduce drinking hours at East Point
• Darwin council called upon to reduce drinking hours at East Point

There is no need for alcohol to be consumed at East Point Reserve after 7pm.

Words straight from NT Police Commander Matt Hollamby who asked for council support to make the grog ban earlier (from 9pm weekdays and 10.30pm on weekends to 7pm everyday) to stamp out anti-social behaviour that is becoming an issue at the popular picturesque spot.

Enjoying a picnic and a couple of drinks with friends and family as the sun sets at East Point Reserve is a luxury Territorians have enjoyed for some time.

But the under-resourced police, with support from Darwin council’s administration, want to implement earlier time restrictions to help reduce anti-social and prevent potentially aggressive behaviour in the public space that is mostly frequented by families.

The request has been rejected by council and criticised by East Point Reserve regulars complaining it is the behaviour of a few ruining a pleasant social pastime for the behaving majority.

Just weeks after NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker vented his frustration about a lack of police resources in rural areas and months in to a global pandemic that has stretched the police force far too thin, it’s disappointing this plea to provide a solution to antisocial behaviour has fallen on deaf ears.

What a slap in the face.

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That we can’t adjust our behaviour ie picnic earlier or enjoy those post 7pm drinks at home, is deplorable.

In a letter to Darwin council, Cmdr Hollamby said: “The current hours directly results in intoxication, violence and anti-social behaviour in this area.”

“Allowing drinking for a four-hour period ensures that a large volume of alcohol is able to be consumed by people who have no other safe place to drink it, resulting in intoxication night after night,” he said.

Proactive initiatives by Darwin council in the city, including the introduction of private security patrols, has worked to reduce anti-social behaviour there and has contributed to the problem being pushed out to East Point Reserve.

So now the police want to address the issue there.

Council Community and Regulatory Services general manager Polly Banks said excessive alcohol consumption and the resultant anti-social behaviour at East Point had escalated in the past several months.

“Council currently expends considerable resources in an attempt to address and/or mitigate anti-social behaviour issues at East Point Reserve caused by excessive alcohol consumption,” she said.

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And police suggest there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that anti-social problems at East Point Reserve escalate beyond 7pm.

Yet some Darwin alderman want data to back this up and aren’t satisfied with the word of one of cops and their own administration.

Police aren’t suggesting the change to spoil the fun for Territorians and visitors, it’s to keep everyone safe.

Just remember the resistance to change when an incident occurs at East Point Reserve that could have been avoided if police had the powers to enforce an earlier drinking ban.

Denise Cahill is the Head of News at the NT News

Follow @DeniseCahill18