By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
AN INNOVATIVE Geelong police operation targeting bottle shop thieves has reduced alcohol-related crime across the city, according to coordinators.
Geelong Liquor Licencing Unit’s Relapse Strategy program is now attracting interest from other police service areas across the state.
The initiative allows police to target and ban recidivist alcohol thieves from entering liquor stores for up to 12 months.
The unit’s Senior Constable Sarah Goette said 60 alcohol outlets had signed up to the Relapse Strategy, formerly the Geelong Packaged Liquor Accord.
“The program has been named the Relapse Strategy because we want to try and help people from relapsing back into their old habits, which in this case is theft of alcohol and alcohol addiction,” Sen Const Goette said.
“As part of this strategy our main aim is to reduce recidivist offenders.
“People identified as committing offences including theft from outlets in the packaged liquor accord face being issued with a banning notice prohibiting them from re-entering any store in the accord for 12 months.
“If they attempt to or enter these stores they may be fined or ultimately sent to court. An infringement notice for contravening a banning notice is currently $303.”
Sen Const Goette said the strategy offered support and referrals to people with alcoholism or alcohol dependence to help educate and treat them.
“Police recognise that it’s not just about enforcing the law but also understanding the underlying problems and working together with other agencies to provide support to these offenders,” she said.
“We work closely with retail outlets to identify offenders, utilising CCTV footage as well as staff knowledge of recidivist offenders and persons currently on the banning list.”
Sen Const Goette said all the outlets had signed an agreement to work together with licencing police to maintain ethical conduct and responsible service, sale and consumption of alcohol.
“We want to monitor and discourage anti-social behaviour in and around licenced premises and public spaces,” she said.
