Police spotlight on city hotels, clubs

By Shaun Inguanzo
POLICE will target the city’s pubs and hotels to counter a sharp rise in drink-driving and other alcohol-related offences.
Victoria Police this week launched Operation Soay to tackle speeding, drink-driving and assaults around Greater Dandenong’s licensed venues.
Operation Soay follows a recent operation where police breath-tested motorists leaving local sports clubs after training nights.
Greater Dandenong Traffic Management Unit Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Denton said the number of incidents and collisions in or near licensed premises had increased lately.
Many of the incidents were related to alcohol consumption, he said.
Act Sen Sgt Denton said VicRoads statistics also showed that Greater Dandenong had many alcohol-related road deaths and serious injury collisions compared with other Victorian cities.
“In recent months, police have detected an increased number of alcohol-related offences in and around local pubs, clubs and other licensed venues such as sporting clubs,” he said.
“These offences range from underage drinking, assaults, drunk and disorderly, criminal damage and drink-driving.
“As such, we have formed this new targeted operation, which will heavily focus on this unacceptable and dangerous behaviour.”
Act Sen Sgt Denton said people needed to plan how they were getting home before they started to drink.
He said licensed premises needed to ensure that they served alcohol responsibly.
“Whether it is having a few drinks after cricket or football training or drinking at a licensed venue on the weekend, people need to plan how they are getting home to ensure that they do not drink and drive,” Act Sen Sgt Denton said.
“People should organise for someone to drop them off so the temptation to drive home after training or a night out is removed.
“Another good idea is to arrange for a sober driver to come and pick them up or organise a taxi home.
“As a passenger, do not accept a lift with someone who has been drinking and who may be over the limit.”
Act Sen Sgt Denton said police would also be turning their attention to drivers leaving bottle shops.
“In recent times we have detected some drink drivers who have driven to a bottle shop from home or a party to buy more drinks.
“This, too, is completely unacceptable and is another example of motorists not only endangering their own safety but the safety of other road users.
“We will have an extremely high visible presence on the roads in coming weeks and we urge people to really think twice before getting behind the wheel.”