PUBS and other licensed venues in St George and Sutherland Shire have become far safer as a result of tough government measures and operators working co-operatively with police.
The number of recorded assaults in licensed premises in Sutherland Shire has more than halved in the past seven years, dropping steadily from 173 incidents in 2008 to 76 last year.
The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures showed a similar decline in the Hurstville council area, from 49 assaults to 23.
In the Kogarah council area, there was a drop in assaults from 34 to 18, while in the Rockdale council area the number fell from 38 to 26 in the past five years.
The change has been attributed to the success of local liquor accords, involving police and licensees, and trading restrictions imposed on venues recording more than eight violent incidents a year.
Sutherland local area command's licensing supervisor Sergeant Scott Robinson said "co-operation [with licensees] has reached a point where it is very good".
He said, depending on legal advice, a new "banned from one, banned from all" policy could soon be introduced across the shire.
This would mean a person refused entry to any venue because of alcohol-related behaviour would not be allowed into any others in the shire.
‘‘The length of the ban would depend on the circumstances, but could be anywhere from three months to a lifetime ban,’’ he said.
Sergeant Robinson said there was a growing problem of alcohol-related violence in other locations.
‘‘In the last 12 months, of all the people that came under notice for alcohol-related violence, 48 percent said their last drink was at home or a private residence,’’ he said.
Sutherland local area command liquor accord chairman Andrew Harrison said they were continuing to look at new measures for licensed premises.
Mr Harrison said one major change had been in the way security officers operated.
‘‘Years ago, security used to think they ran the place, but now they know our management make the decisions and they act on them,’’ he said.
Pub violence rates decline
Sutherland Shire high school students are learning another set of the ‘‘three Rs’’ in a new initiative to combat antisocial and violent behaviour in licensed premises.
Police and other liquor accord officials sit the students down in a hotel bar before regular opening time and spell out their rights, responsibilities and the response that will follow if they do the wrong thing.
Year 11 students from Cronulla, Caringbah, Engadine and Heathcote high schools have been involved, with more to follow.
‘‘We don’t treat them as youths, but as young adults, because I think they respect that a lot more,’’ Sutherland local area command liquor accord chairman Andrew Harrison said.
Bad to good
Sphere Nightspot at Sutherland is one venue that appears to have ‘‘turned things around’’.
The venue, which was originally named Hunters but had several name changes, including AKA Nightclub, was once regularly listed on the violent venues register.
However, Sutherland local area command’s licensing supervisor Sergeant Scott Robinson said the owners had worked hard with police to address problems.
The nightclub had not been on the register since last year and was now rated ‘‘low risk’’, he said.
Owners Dave Cox and Scott King said they had introduced a range of new measures, reducing the number of incidents ‘‘to zero’’.
Mr Cox said one change had been the introduction of a ‘‘talk and walk’’ policy, requiring security officers to calm down misbehaving patrons and walk them out, rather than using force.
Do you think the situation has improved and what else would you suggest?