Party Smart, party safely
Media Conference, Winchester Police Centre
Deputy Chief Police Officer Commander Steve Lancaster
31 October 2005
Cmndr Lancaster: ACT Policing is looking at this party safe and party smart which is a key strategy for us. It's about giving people the confidence to have a good festive season, but taking on some useful tips, some simple tips and maximising our enjoyment but lowering the risk attached to that sort of enjoyment. Simple events that have, should have been fun have been spoilt by anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, and often this is through over-consumption of alcohol and other events which cause that to happen. Our Territory Investigations Group, more in particular our crime targeting teams have made some key drug arrests and of drug dealers in the ACT, and they're working very hard with our drug intelligence people and targeting key recidivist drug dealers in the ACT as well. A number of our general duty patrols have also been called to events which again, should have been fun and simple events, but have turned sour because of gatecrashers, and in other cases, parties getting out of control through again over-consumption of alcohol or the use of drugs. And some simple strategies, which are detailed in a Party Smart book, give some simple strategies of how you can avoid this happening and maximising your enjoyment and lowering risks.
Janine(WIN): Just with the parties over the weekend; what are we looking at with regards to numbers and how many problems that police had over the weekend?
Steve Lancaster: We have had several incidents where a party, for all intents and purposes was quite a simple event, however just by not taking on those key strategies of making sure who the guests are who are actually turning up to the parties, and those who shouldn't be there shouldn't be allowed in the door, things went wrong. And again, just by controlling behaviour by looking at the consumption of alcohol and keeping an eye on that, once people have too much to drink it can cause it to get out of control.
Janine(WIN): [inaudible] get number of parties, arrests, assaults like have there been charges?
Steve Lancaster: Well generally in those instances if you've got large numbers it's about neutralising the effect and not so much the arrests. If people are breaking the law we will deal with that, but in general it's about resolving the situation as quickly and as peacefully as we can and just moving people on.
David McLennan (CT): I understand you had a fair few calls over the weekend about parties? What sorts of numbers of responses were there?
Steve Lancaster: I'm unsure of the numbers, but there were several loud parties and unruly behaviour, which not only means the party goers do not have a good time, but it also causes the neighbours and those around also, to have their night-time activities spoiled as well. Everyone's entitled to go home and have a peaceful time and enjoy themselves within their own street.
Reporter: So is it more than one gate crasher at all these parties?
Steve Lancaster: I think you've got a problem with not only gatecrashers, but even those allowed or permitted to enter the party who are consuming too much alcohol, so yes gatecrashers are a problem but just as importantly are the numbers of people who are drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs. Another important issue I'd like to raise is the vulnerability of some groups of people, by maybe drinking too much alcohol or through using social drugs, they can become a target or vulnerable to other people. If they wake up in the morning or during the night and have to deal with an issue of sexual assault that has occurred, it can be very vague to describe the people in a situation; it's also very difficult for them to deal with the guilt and actually reporting an event like that as well.
Janine (WIN): Has that been the case this weekend?
Steve Lancaster: No, that hasn't been the case, but it has been in the past, an issue like that has arisen.
David McLennan (CT): What about the Stonefest?
Steve Lancaster: There was a male person was arrested at the Stonefest festival for a small quantity of MDMA and other social drugs and that's being dealt with in the courts at the moment.
David McLennan (CT): We're getting up towards the party season. For want of a better term at the moment, are police expecting that after a busy weekend it's only going to get busier and busier?
Steve Lancaster: This is a time of year when we're looking at the festive season, we've got daylight savings and we've got kids on school holidays. We always expect and historically it's shown that you do get an increase in people going out to public areas and also consuming additional alcohol than what they normally would. And we're not saying here don't do it, but we are saying maximise that enjoyment, and minimise the risk attached to that by just taking some simple steps.
David McLennan (CT): Where do you get this handy Party Smart booklet kit?
Steve Lancaster: If you just ring the police switchboard on 6256 7777 or the Crime Prevention area.
Ends//