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NSW to trial locking up drunks in holding cells on weekends | NSW to trial locking up drunks in holding cells on weekends |
(3 months later) | |
NSW police minister Michael Gallacher says the trial of a sobering up centre in the Sydney CBD, which begins this Friday, is in the best interests of the community. | NSW police minister Michael Gallacher says the trial of a sobering up centre in the Sydney CBD, which begins this Friday, is in the best interests of the community. |
Locking up drunks on the weekend will free up police resources and help prevent drunken violence on the streets, the NSW government says. | Locking up drunks on the weekend will free up police resources and help prevent drunken violence on the streets, the NSW government says. |
"It's about saying to drunken hooligans out there, 'we as a community have had a gutful of you, and we want to take measures to take you off the street'," he said on Wednesday. | "It's about saying to drunken hooligans out there, 'we as a community have had a gutful of you, and we want to take measures to take you off the street'," he said on Wednesday. |
On Friday and Saturday nights, drunks who disobey police orders to move on will be detained in one of 10 holding cells at Sydney's central local court. | On Friday and Saturday nights, drunks who disobey police orders to move on will be detained in one of 10 holding cells at Sydney's central local court. |
People will be held for up to four hours, and police have the option of extending that period. | People will be held for up to four hours, and police have the option of extending that period. |
Each cell can hold a maximum of three people and the centre will be monitored by three police officers between 9pm and 6am (AEST). | Each cell can hold a maximum of three people and the centre will be monitored by three police officers between 9pm and 6am (AEST). |
Detainees will also be charged for their stay, starting at $200 for their first detention and rising to $800 for the fourth and subsequent lock-ups. | Detainees will also be charged for their stay, starting at $200 for their first detention and rising to $800 for the fourth and subsequent lock-ups. |
There will also be a "voluntary" drunk tank in Coogee. | There will also be a "voluntary" drunk tank in Coogee. |
Gallacher said preventing drunken violence was more effective than police simply responding to violent incidents. | Gallacher said preventing drunken violence was more effective than police simply responding to violent incidents. |
"This is to stop you belting innocent people and damaging property, and intervening much earlier on," he said. | "This is to stop you belting innocent people and damaging property, and intervening much earlier on," he said. |
Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch dismissed concerns that locking up drunks together is a disaster waiting to happen. | Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch dismissed concerns that locking up drunks together is a disaster waiting to happen. |
"They're not being clumped together and they will be in a secure facility," he said. | "They're not being clumped together and they will be in a secure facility," he said. |
Murdoch said the centres would help police tackle drunken behaviour in Sydney's entertainment areas between the CBD and Kings Cross. | Murdoch said the centres would help police tackle drunken behaviour in Sydney's entertainment areas between the CBD and Kings Cross. |
"This is so we can protect people from themselves, rather than just leave people to languish on the street, and rather than waste police time," he said. | "This is so we can protect people from themselves, rather than just leave people to languish on the street, and rather than waste police time," he said. |
"It's not somewhere I'd like to wake up, that's for sure." | "It's not somewhere I'd like to wake up, that's for sure." |
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