Alcohol sales policy helps cut SOS calls

An alcohol sales policy designed by Martu elders and bottle shops in Newman has led to a decrease in after-hours emergency calls from women fleeing domestic violence, according to a local women’s shelter.

The agreement, which has seen Martu people turned away from bottle shops in Newman after 5pm, was signed two months ago between Cellarbrations licensee Anita Grace and Martu elders to stop alcohol-fuelled violence and antisocial behaviour in the CBD.

Newman Women's Shelter co-ordinator Maggie Lewis said since the policy was put in place at-risk women in town were already feeling the positive effects.

“I have noticed a huge change... it has still been busy at the shelter but not with individuals, more the large family groups,” she said.

“I don’t get the calls from public phones between 7 and 9pm from women being chased around the area needing to be picked up.

“In fact I haven’t had a call for about a month from those public phones and no late pick-ups from the post office in town.”

Newman police Acting Senior Sergeant Grant Berry said the police had also noticed a reduction in alcohol-related violence and that it was a grassroots initiative that could be successful in other communities in the North West.