Shepparton police now have extra powers to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence in the city’s entertainment precinct.
Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson today announced the Director of Liquor Licensing has declared Shepparton's entertainment centre a ‘designated area’, giving police the power ban people suspected of committing certain offences from licensed venues or the entire area for up to 24 hours.
"The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to protect Victorians from alcohol-related crime and violence by giving police with tough powers to deal with troublemakers that put people and property in danger,” Mr Robinson said.
“Now that Shepparton’s entertainment precinct is a designated area, police have better powers to protect pub and nightclub patrons looking to enjoy a good night out from harm.”
The Director declared a designated area in Shepparton after consultation with local police, who were concerned about violence, antisocial behaviour and property damage in and around the city's pubs and nightspots.
“Shepparton residents can feel safer knowing police have strong powers to keep the community and the streets safer from booze-fuelled crime,” Mr Robinson said.
Offences warranting banning notices include physical assault, sexual offences, threats to kill, property damage, drunkenness, offensive or obscene behaviour, failure to leave licensed premises and weapons offences.
It is a criminal offence for a person given a banning notice to enter or re-enter or to attempt to enter or re-enter a designated area or licensed premises from which the person has been banned.
Police can also apply for a court order that the ban remain in force for up to 12 months if a person is found guilty of committing a specified offence in the area.
Mr Robinson said the Government would also introduce legislation this year to extend the time troublemakers could be banned from 24 hours to 72 hours.
Shepparton is the latest Victorian centre to be declared a designated area, joining the entertainment precincts of Melbourne CBD, Fitzroy, South Yarra, Prahran, St Kilda, the Knox O-Zone site, Frankston, Geelong, Bendigo, Traralgon, Ballarat and Warrnambool.
A map of the Shepparton designated area can be found at www.justice.vic.gov.au/alcohol