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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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