A LARGE number of extra police will be out this weekend, patrolling Canberra’s bars and nightclubs and conducting random breath tests as part of crackdown on drunken violence that extends across Australia and New Zealand.
In Canberra, officers from the Regional Targeting Team, Crime Reduction Unit, Traffic Operations, Specialist Response Group and General Duties will all be out on the streets as part of the trans-Tasman “Operation Unite – a Blitz on Drunken Violence”.
ACT Police Chief Rudi Lammers said the operation was an opportunity to remind the public that getting drunk often leads to poor decisions and violent behaviour, both of which can have serious consequences and affect people for the rest of their lives.
“People should feel safe and secure and police don’t want to spoil their enjoyment. Our message is go out, have a good time, but don’t let your fun get out of control,” Assistant Commissioner Lammers said.
The ACT’s top cop urged Canberrans to drink responsibly rather than simply to get drunk.
“Binge drinking, and other forms of alcohol misuse, is not a problem isolated to any one age group,” he said. “We are seeing people of all ages consuming large amounts of alcohol and causing trouble while they are intoxicated.
“People should also take care of their friends. If they see a friend has had too much to drink or is causing problems, be a good friend and arrange for them to get home. You don’t want to be the one to tell your friend’s parents that they are in our custody, or worse, injured and in hospital.”
Operation Unite officially commences at 6pm on Friday night (December 13) and runs until 6am Sunday morning (December 15).
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