Police Unite against violence

Karratha nightspots came under the spotlight at the weekend during a nationwide police operation to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

The Pilbara News rode along with officers during Operation Unite, carried out on Friday and Saturday nights.

The crackdown involved police adopting a no-tolerance approach to drunken violence and antisocial behaviour.

Officers from Karratha were scheduled to work special shifts to ensure a strong police presence around venues at times considered troublesome, such as closing.

In a good result for police the Shire of Roebourne recorded no major incidents over the two nights.

Pilbara District police Inspector Ray Briggs said officers were pleased with the low numbers of alcohol-related arrests in the Shire at the weekend.

“The Pilbara Drug and Alcohol Aware unit had made licensed premises aware that Operation Unite was going to be running,” Insp. Briggs said.

“I think they should be congratulated because certainly the results reflect the responsible service of alcohol which usually goes hand in hand with anti-social behaviour.”

Over the course of the weekend 67 licensed premises checks were carried out.

There were 23 liquor infringements issued, including 13 for street drinking, while 14 cautions were given.

Thirty traffic infringements were issued along with nine cautions while eight more serious charges were laid, including three against drivers who exceeded 0.08 per cent blood alcohol content while driving.

Eighty-nine road-side breath tests were conducted and police made 32 name checks.

On Saturday night acting Sergeant Mark Stevenson and Constable Bryn Papalia formed one of the units patrolling under Operation Unite.

The officers used the early part of the night to check-in and walk through Karratha pubs and clubs to gauge numbers of patrons and the level of intoxication among them.

Random traffic stops were conducted with drivers breath tested for alcohol and licences checked for validity.

Infringements were issued to people drinking outside licensed areas and disorderly conduct, such as public urination, led to a summons to attend court issued.

The officers also walked though many venues, checking-in with security and evicting overly intoxicated people.

Insp. Briggs said that coming into the holiday period police wouldn’t be backing off, targeting not only anti-social behaviour but also road users for driving offences.

“The overall message is that everyone should be congratulated for the fact that it was such a quiet couple of nights,” he said.

In Western Australia over the two nights 806 people were charged with 905 offences, including assault, assault on a public officer and possession of a prohibited drug.

There were 295 liquor infringements handed out and 129 disorderly conduct charges issued.

More than 12,000 roadside breath tests were also conducted Statewide.