Nights end in violence

Brawls outside a popular Port Hedland night spot after closing have led to local police laying assault and disorderly behaviour charges every weekend this month.

The Australian Hotels Association of WA has called for the State Government to introduce staggered patron leaving times to help stem the violence.

In a recent spate of attacks, East Pilbara detectives officer-in-charge Detective Sergeant Tony Langer said two men suffered suspected fractured skulls and bleeding on the brain in an allegedly unprovoked attack just after midnight on April 11.

This brings the total number of assaults reported outside the venue this year to nine.

One man, who almost lost his eyesight after falling victim to an allegedly unprovoked one-punch attack in January, said more needed to be done to clear patrons out of the area quickly.

"When we walked outside after close, there were already two fights that had broken out," the man, who did not want to be named, said.

"(The venue) shuffles everyone out at exactly the same time and … there are just not enough taxis within the town to be able to clear the people off quickly.

"You end up with a large group of intoxicated people and it only takes one thing to start a fight."

WA is one of the few states that does not allow a 30-minute leaving time at licensed venues after last drinks.

AHA WA chief executive Bradley Woods believed implementing the change as part of the State Government's review of the Liquor Control Act would allow people time to consider transport options and reduce confrontation.

"Any sensible measure that staggers the flow of patrons out of a venue should be supported by Government," he said.

But Liquor Minister Colin Holt said the Liquor Act Review committee believed the 15 minutes currently prescribed for patrons to finish their drinks and leave after closing was adequate.

"Despite the prescribed 15- minute period, a licensee is entitled to stop serving liquor earlier than the prescribed closing time," he said.

"In situations where antisocial behaviour is occurring … I would expect that licensees would consider doing that … to address those problems."