Flexistentialist
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2002
- Messages
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Sniffer dog laws unleashed on hotels
Rosemary Odgers and Margaret Wenham
21apr05
LAWS enabling police to take sniffer dogs into nightclubs and sporting and entertainment venues will be fast-tracked, in a State Government attempt to tackle inner-city violence and illicit drug use.
Police Minister Judy Spence will today announce she will draft legislation to expand police drug detection powers.
The move comes after Crown Law advised the Government that existing laws gave police only limited powers to use drug detection dogs in licensed premises.
"Putting these dogs to use in the nightclub and hotel precincts will enable police to better detect powder drugs such as amphetamines which, combined with alcohol, create a dangerous cocktail that can lead to violence," Ms Spence said.
"The Queensland Police Service already uses its drug detection dogs for general drug detection in public places.
"These new laws will enable police to carry out general drug detection in places such as licensed premises, sporting and entertainment venues and on public transport routes including train stations."
The use of sniffer dogs in nightclubs was first revealed in March as part of the Government's 17-point plan to tackle alcohol and drug-fuelled violence in Brisbane CBD.
The plan, prompted by the deaths of two men in violent attacks, also included a 12-month trial of a 3am lockdown under which clubs and hotels allowed to continue operating after that time will not be able to admit new patrons.
There will also be stricter controls on cheap-drink promotions, more security cameras outside nightclubs and better transport to take people away from the city.
State Parliament yesterday passed amendments to the Liquor Act to introduce the 3am lockdowns in the Brisbane City Council area and prohibit the advertising of free drinks, multiple drinks and discounted drinks statewide.
Ms Spence said 3am lockouts had been running successfully on the Gold Coast and in Townsville. The number of people caught for assaults, public nuisance offences and public drunkenness had dropped.
Supporting the Bill in Parliament, Member for Mundingburra Lindy Nelson-Carr said that since the 3am lockouts were introduced in Townsville last year the number of assaults had dropped.
She said that between June and November 2003 the number of assaults was 52 and by the same period in 2004 it had fallen to 38.
Public nuisance offences in the same periods were 230 and 104 respectively.
The Bill was supported by the Opposition, although the Nationals' Kevin Lingard questioned why legislation was necessary if the same result could have been achieved by conditions being imposed on liquor licences.
Rosemary Odgers and Margaret Wenham
21apr05
LAWS enabling police to take sniffer dogs into nightclubs and sporting and entertainment venues will be fast-tracked, in a State Government attempt to tackle inner-city violence and illicit drug use.
Police Minister Judy Spence will today announce she will draft legislation to expand police drug detection powers.
The move comes after Crown Law advised the Government that existing laws gave police only limited powers to use drug detection dogs in licensed premises.
"Putting these dogs to use in the nightclub and hotel precincts will enable police to better detect powder drugs such as amphetamines which, combined with alcohol, create a dangerous cocktail that can lead to violence," Ms Spence said.
"The Queensland Police Service already uses its drug detection dogs for general drug detection in public places.
"These new laws will enable police to carry out general drug detection in places such as licensed premises, sporting and entertainment venues and on public transport routes including train stations."
The use of sniffer dogs in nightclubs was first revealed in March as part of the Government's 17-point plan to tackle alcohol and drug-fuelled violence in Brisbane CBD.
The plan, prompted by the deaths of two men in violent attacks, also included a 12-month trial of a 3am lockdown under which clubs and hotels allowed to continue operating after that time will not be able to admit new patrons.
There will also be stricter controls on cheap-drink promotions, more security cameras outside nightclubs and better transport to take people away from the city.
State Parliament yesterday passed amendments to the Liquor Act to introduce the 3am lockdowns in the Brisbane City Council area and prohibit the advertising of free drinks, multiple drinks and discounted drinks statewide.
Ms Spence said 3am lockouts had been running successfully on the Gold Coast and in Townsville. The number of people caught for assaults, public nuisance offences and public drunkenness had dropped.
Supporting the Bill in Parliament, Member for Mundingburra Lindy Nelson-Carr said that since the 3am lockouts were introduced in Townsville last year the number of assaults had dropped.
She said that between June and November 2003 the number of assaults was 52 and by the same period in 2004 it had fallen to 38.
Public nuisance offences in the same periods were 230 and 104 respectively.
The Bill was supported by the Opposition, although the Nationals' Kevin Lingard questioned why legislation was necessary if the same result could have been achieved by conditions being imposed on liquor licences.
From The Courier Mail
i guess thats relating to me the most, then again, im always on happy drugs :D