Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 11:05 pm
Time: 11:05 pm
Results for alcohol related crime, disorder (australia)
18 results foundAuthor: Dwyer, Robyn Title: People who Drink in Public Space in the Footscray CBD Summary: Public drinking produces significant harms to the drinker and can negatively affect public amenity. In response to concern about public drinking in the Footscray Central Business District, in 2003 Maribyrnong City Council enacted a Local law creating an alcohol exclusion zone around the Footscray CBD. Information from drinkers was collected by DASWest in March 2004 about the zone’s likely effects and impact on public drinkers. The aim of the current research was to update the information collected in 2004. To this end information from identified public drinkers in the Footscray CBD was collected within the following domains: · Age, gender, employment and related demographics; · people’s lives - how they live, work, play and interact with one another on a day-today basis and culture; · their community (its cohesion, stability, character, services and facilities); · reasons for using public space; · the extent of the problem of being affected by alcohol and/or other drugs in public places; · links between public drinking / drug use and violence in the Footscray Business Centre and its immediate surrounds, and · ways of better supporting and engaging with individuals engaged in substance misuse and demonstrating problematic behaviour in public places. We observed public drinking in and around the Footscray CBD during the course of the research. While some of this drinking occurred within the exclusion zone, it was generally done discreetly. During the observation phase of the research we identified (and subsequently recruited) drinkers from three main social sets - drinkers who: · drank in Nicholson Street between Paisley and Irving Streets; · primarily drank in Railway Reserve; and · primarily used heroin but also consumed alcohol as they moved around the Footscray CBD. Across the three groups the majority of the sample was male, born in Australia, and self-identified as having Australian ethnicity. Most came from Footscray or its immediate surrounds and had been coming to Footscray for some years. Most of the sample reported coming to Footscray on a daily or near-daily basis. Some of the reasons given by the sample for visiting Footscray included: · social interaction to alleviate boredom and prevent loneliness; · the use of local social services (e.g. Centrelink) and businesses (e.g. cafes); · the use of local health services; · obtaining medications and management of chronic conditions; and · the purchase, or brokering of the purchase, of illicit drugs. The prominence of alcohol and drinking varied across the three social sets interviewed. While alcohol was central to the drinkers from Railway Reserve, with harmful drinking patterns reported, alcohol was an adjunct to the main activities of the other two groups. Similarly, while all groups experienced alcohol-caused harms, these were most frequently reported by the drinkers around Railway Reserve. Reported alcohol-caused violence was typically intragroup - generally oriented towards other members of each drinking group. In spite of reports of sporadic violence, the groups served significant social functions with reports of important shared experiences, trust and reciprocity evident amongst the primary drinkers. Nevertheless, these social connections were confined largely to the public sphere, with structural and personal reasons precluding invitations to one another’s homes or residences. Other public drinking settings such as hotels were generally avoided for a variety of reasons including cost, poor treatment by bar staff as well as the effect of the new smoking bans and preferences for outdoor settings. Most participants were aware of the alcohol exclusion zone, with around two-thirds reporting interactions with police about drinking in the exclusion zone - slightly less than the proportion found in previous research. Reported enforcement responses ranged from moving people on through to the issuing of fines. The effects of these fines, which may accumulate to significant amounts of money over time, on the lives of already - poor and marginalised people need to be considered in relation to the enforcement of the alcohol exclusion zone. The need for additional health and social services, or marketing of available services to the locations in which their drinking took place, was expressed by the drinkers around Railway Reserve. Further, both the observational component of the research and reports from drinkers suggested that the amenity in Railway Reserve could easily be improved through the: 1. installation of public toilets; 2. installation of public drinking fountains; and 3. maintenance of garbage disposal facilities. In general, the findings of this research are consistent with reports of local crime statistics in the year prior to the conduct of the research, which suggested falling rates of crime in Maribyrnong overall. Importantly, no incidents of violence or aggressive behaviours were seen or noted during the conduct of the research. Nevertheless, as indicated above, we have identified several ways of improving the response to public drinking in Maribyrnong. Details: Melbourne: Burnet Institute, Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Research, 2007. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 5, 2011 at: http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Files/BurnetInstituteReport-DrinkinginPublicSpaces.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Australia URL: http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Files/BurnetInstituteReport-DrinkinginPublicSpaces.pdf Shelf Number: 121652 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Disorderly ConductNuisance Behaviors and DisorderPublic SpaceSubstance Abuse |
Author: Sweeney, Josh Title: Alcohol and Assault on Friday and Saturday Nights: Findings from the DUMA Program Summary: The Australian Institute of Criminology interviewed 170 assault offenders detained on Friday and Saturday nights as part of the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program. Analysis of questions about alcohol use provides valuable information to support a range of alcohol harm reduction strategies, including Operation Unite. • Those charged with assault on Friday and Saturday nights were more likely than those charged at other times to have consumed alcohol in the past 48 hours and attribute alcohol as a factor in their offending. • Detainees who had consumed alcohol in the past 48 hours and been charged with assault on a Friday and Saturday night were nearly twice as likely as those charged at other times to have been mixing drinks on the last occasion they drank. This was particularly the case for young males aged 18 to 25 years (48%). • Assault offenders consumed substantial amounts of alcohol in the lead up to their arrest. The median number of standard drinks consumed by assault offenders was 14, although this was higher for young males who had been mixing drinks on the last occasion they drank (22 standard drinks). • Of those who had been drinking, half of all assault offenders consumed their last drink at a residential location. Thirty percent had been drinking at licensed premises. Younger males aged 18–25 years were more likely to have been drinking at a licensed premise. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2011. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Research in Practice, No. 14: Accessed June 27, 2011 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/6/D/F/%7B6DFDDF7C-7948-4786-AB77-3CA21CF0443B%7Drip14.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/6/D/F/%7B6DFDDF7C-7948-4786-AB77-3CA21CF0443B%7Drip14.pdf Shelf Number: 121826 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Assaults |
Author: Sweeney, Josh Title: Alcohol and Disorderly Conduct on Friday and Saturday Nights: Findings from the DUMA Program Summary: The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) interviewed 161 offenders detained for disorderly conduct offences on Friday and Saturday nights as part of the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program. Analysis of new questions about alcohol use provides valuable information to support a range of alcohol harm reduction strategies, including Operation Unite. • Those charged with disorder on Friday and Saturday nights were more likely than those charged at other times to have consumed alcohol in the past 48 hours and attributed alcohol as a factor for their offending. • Detainees who had consumed alcohol in the past 48 hours and were charged with disorder on a Friday and Saturday evening were nearly twice as likely as those charged at other times to have been mixing drinks on the last occasion they drank (37% versus 27%). This was particularly the case for young males aged 26 to 35 years (44%). • Disorder offenders consumed substantial amounts of alcohol in the lead up to their arrest. The median number of standard drinks consumed was 15, although this was higher for males aged 26 to 35 years who had been mixing drinks on the last occasion they drank (29 standard drinks). • Of those who had been drinking alcohol, 40 percent of all disorder offenders consumed their last drink at a licensed premise. Thirty-nine percent had been drinking at a private residential location. Younger males aged 18–25 years were more likely to have been drinking at a licensed premise. • Disorder offenders charged on a Friday and Saturday night were more likely than those assault offenders charged in the same time period to have consumed their last alcoholic drink at a licensed premise. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2011. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Research in Practice, No. 15: Accessed June 27, 2011 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/F/6/6/%7BF6652BFD-09C0-4FB5-BC9B-01D2A65EEBBF%7Drip15_001.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/F/6/6/%7BF6652BFD-09C0-4FB5-BC9B-01D2A65EEBBF%7Drip15_001.pdf Shelf Number: 121827 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Disorderly ConductNuisance Behaviors and Disorders |
Author: Burgess, Melissa Title: The Association Between Alcohol Outlet Density and Assaults On and Around Licensed Premises Summary: The aim of this research was to estimate the proportion of assaults occurring on or around licensed premises, determine whether assaults are more likely to happen around licensed premises than elsewhere and estimate the effect of additional alcohol outlets (outlet density) on the incidence of assault. Clusters of licensed premises in the Sydney Local Government Area (LGA) were identified. The proportion of recorded assault incidents within 20, 50, 100 and 200 metre buffer zones around the licensed premises was calculated and compared with the proportion of land area covered by the buffer. The incidence of recorded assaults as a function of increasing counts of alcohol outlets was also examined. Assaults were found to be highly concentrated around licensed premises. Assaults tend to cluster around George Street in the central business district (CBD), Darlinghurst Road in Kings Cross, Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, King Street in Newtown and Glebe Point Road in Glebe. The highest concentrations of assault are in Kings Cross, Oxford Street in Darlinghurst and along George Street in the CBD. More than half of the assaults recorded by police in the Sydney CBD occur within 50 metres of a liquor outlet. Only 3 per cent of the Sydney LGA is within 20 metres of a liquor outlet, yet 37 per cent of assaults in Sydney LGA occurred in this space. The results suggest that each additional alcohol outlet per hectare in the Sydney LGA will result, on average, in 4.5 additional assaults per annum. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2011. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 147: Accessed June 30, 2011 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB147.pdf/$file/CJB147.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB147.pdf/$file/CJB147.pdf Shelf Number: 121930 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)AssaultsLiquor Outlets |
Author: d'Abbs, Peter Title: An Evaluation of the Katherine Alcohol Management Plan and Liquor Supply Plan Summary: This report is an evaluation of the Katherine Alcohol Management Plan (AMP): a set of measures developed initially by the Katherine Region Harmony Group and given official endorsement in November 2007 by the NT Licensing Commission when it approved an application by Katherine Town Council to have the town of Katherine declared a ‘Dry Zone’ – that is, an area in which public consumption of alcohol was prohibited. The Dry Zone declaration took effect on 21 January 2008. While no such formal commencement date applies to any of the other measures that make up the AMP, we have taken this date as marking the commencement of AMP implementation for evaluation purposes. The evaluation was conducted by a team from the Menzies School of Health Research for the NT Department of Justice. The evaluation methodology used is outlined in Section 3 of this report. Section 4 outlines the social and historical context in which the Katherine AMP evolved. Section 5 is a ‘process evaluation’, describing steps taken to implement the AMP. This is followed (Section 6) by an analysis of outcomes – using indicators of alcohol-related harm – that followed implementation of the AMP. Section 7 presents findings from a survey conducted to gauge the extent of support for, or opposition to, the AMP in Katherine, while Section 8 presents our conclusions and recommendations. Details: Casuarina NT, Australia: Menzies School of Health Research, 2010. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed September 28, 2011 at: http://www.menzies.edu.au/sites/menzies.edu.au/files/file/Katherine%20AMP%20Evaluation_Final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.menzies.edu.au/sites/menzies.edu.au/files/file/Katherine%20AMP%20Evaluation_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 122929 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Public Drunkenness |
Author: Breen, Courtney Title: Alcohol-Related Crime: Finding a Suitable Measure for Community-Level Analyses Using Routinely Collected Date Summary: Alcohol misuse causes substantial public health harm. Strategies have been proposed to reduce alcohol-related harm at the community-level, which requires suitable community-level measures to monitor changes over time and between communities. For alcohol-related crime, certain offences occurring at certain times that often involve alcohol have been used as a proxy measure. There is currently no adequate empirical rationale for identifying the most reliable proxy measure of alcohol-related crime. This report examines the suitability of three measures of alcohol-related crime. Police records of reported incidents from twenty communities in NSW, Australia, that were involved in a community-wide randomised controlled trial to reduce alcohol-related harm were examined. Three measures were derived; i) serious assaults only, ii) a broader range of assaults and iii) assaults and public nuisance offences. Hierarchical linear models (HLM) account for various sources of variability and correlation of longitudinal data and were used to determine reliability estimates for model parameters and in the calculation of the intraclass correlations (ICC). The broadest measure of alcohol-related crime (assaults and public nuisance offences) was found to have the highest reliability estimates between communities at a given time point and over time. This measure also had the highest ICC, indicating relatively more variability in the measure can be attributed to differences between towns rather than changes over time. The HLM approach gives more accurate reliability estimates than could be assessed using a repeated measures ANOVA. For the communities from where these data derive, the broadest measure is the most reliable for comparing rates of alcohol-related crime between them, and for assessing intervention effects over time. Details: Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, 2011. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Technical Report No. 317: Accessed November 23, 2011 at: http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/all/shared_files/ndarc/resources/TR.317.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/all/shared_files/ndarc/resources/TR.317.pdf Shelf Number: 123433 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)AssaultsDisorderly ConductNuisance Behaviors and Disorders |
Author: Victoria. Auditor-General Title: Effectiveness of Justice Strategies in Preventing and Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm Summary: The audit assessed the effectiveness of the Department of Justice, Victoria Police and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation in preventing and reducing the impact of alcohol-related harm on the community. Alcohol-related harm costs Victoria an estimated $4.3 billion per year. Despite the implementation of various strategies and initiatives, the level of reported alcohol-related harm has increased significantly over the past 10 years. Harm minimisation efforts have been hampered by the lack of a whole-of-government policy position on the role of alcohol in society, by poorly chosen, implemented and evaluated initiatives, by inconsistent and cumbersome liquor licensing processes and legislation, and by a lack of coordinated, intelligence-led and targeted enforcement. The Department of Justice's initiatives to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm were fragmented, superficial and reactive instead of targeted, evidence-based, complementary and well coordinated. The liquor licensing regime is not effectively minimising alcohol-related harm. This is due to a lack of transparency in decision-making, insufficient guidance on regulatory processes, administrative errors, poor quality data and a lack of engagement from councils. There is no overarching whole-of-government enforcement strategy to comprehensively address unlawful supply, particularly service to intoxicated patrons and minors, which is the cause of much alcohol-related harm. Inaccurate and incomplete data is further hampering enforcement efforts. A fundamental change in approach to strategy development, licensing and enforcement is required before any noticeable impact on reducing harm is likely. Details: Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer, 2012. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2012 at: http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/reports_and_publications/latest_reports/2011-12/20120620-alcohol.aspx Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/reports_and_publications/latest_reports/2011-12/20120620-alcohol.aspx Shelf Number: 125546 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Law EnforcementAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Drunk and Disorderly |
Author: Hudson, Sara Title: Alcohol Restrictions in Indigenous Communities and Frontier Towns Summary: Double standards in the responsible serving of alcohol have contributed to the growing alcohol problem in remote Indigenous communities, and are one reason why alcohol restrictions are now in place in communities across the Far North. But until the same standards are applied everywhere, there is no way of knowing whether such restrictions are really necessary. More controls on alcohol will have little effect until all the double standards that permeate Aboriginal people’s lives are addressed. Australia has a long history of treating Aboriginal people differently. First they were subjected to discriminatory laws that prevented them from living where they chose, drinking legally, voting, and being paid a fair wage. When these inequitable laws were finally abolished, they were replaced by equally damaging affirmative action and ‘culturally appropriate’ separatist policies. Denied the same educational and housing opportunities provided to others, remote Indigenous Australians have become increasingly reliant on the state to meet their every need. The harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption are a problem across Australia but more pronounced in many Aboriginal communities because nearly every resident is reliant on welfare. The absence of a real economy and appropriate controls on alcohol has created social environments where welfare payments are spent on alcohol and heavy drinking has become endemic. Few canteens on Indigenous lands and taverns in remote areas serve alcohol responsibly, with devastating results for communities. Aurukun was once described as a ‘liveable and vibrant community,’ but following the introduction of a regular supply of alcohol and no controls on its use, levels of violence, abuse and neglect skyrocketed. In 2000, the town’s homicide rate was estimated at 120 times the state average. In the 1970s, increasing liberalisation of liquor licensing laws saw an increase in the number of liquor outlets and extended opening hours of premises. Along with an increase in the total number of licensed premises, there was an increase in the numbers of licenses to sell takeaway alcohol. As a result, per capita consumption of pure alcohol in Australia grew rapidly in the 1970s (from an average of 9.3 litres in 1961 to a peak of 13.1 litres per person in 1974–75). Since then, state and territory liquor authorities have tried to offset this increasing liberalisation with new legislation to mitigate the harms caused by excessive alcohol consumption. This has contributed to the overall reduction in total per capita consumption of alcohol nationwide to around 10 litres of alcohol, but the Far North has not followed these trends. Per capita alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory remains high (14.35 litres in 2006–07), with the average consumption among Indigenous Territorians even higher at 16.1 litres. Many Indigenous people (particularly women) are concerned at the level of harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption and have used Aboriginal land and liquor legislation to restrict and even ban alcohol. The decision to introduce additional restrictions should be up to communities to decide, through a democratic process where everyone gets a voice no matter how marginalised they are. The problem is what to do in places where alcohol causes significant problems and communities do not want to be ‘dry’ or restrict alcohol. Community initiatives to introduce alcohol restrictions have been followed by territory, state and Commonwealth initiatives, including the Queensland government’s Alcohol Management Plans in Cape York and the federal government’s Northern Territory Intervention (NTI) in 2007 that introduced alcohol prohibitions in ‘73’ prescribed communities. The NTI restrictions have proven ineffective: they have increased ‘sly-grogging,’ displaced the drinking problem to ‘drinking paddocks’ on the outskirts of communities, and increased the number of homeless or itinerant drinkers in the larger towns and cities where alcohol is freely available. Drinking to extreme intoxication often occurs in ‘drinking camps’ on town fringes where there are no formal controls. Until recently, their existence has been unofficially tolerated because it has served everyone’s interests to segregate Aboriginal drinkers. Non-Indigenous people do not want them in the pubs and taverns in towns, and Indigenous drinkers have enjoyed the freedom and perceived the tacit license to do what they like as a minor victory over those who disapprove of their drinking and behaviour. However, recent concerns about the increasing numbers of itinerant drinkers coming to Alice Springs and causing problems have led to suggestions for more ‘wet canteens’ or ‘clubs’ in communities. The idea of drinking in a controlled environment, where people can consume alcohol with food and enjoy other recreational activities, has its merits but the failure of past experiences must be kept in mind. If on-premise options are to be a viable means of reducing the harms associated with drinking takeaway alcohol, then their risks need close attention. Poor governance and management is likely to be an issue. The pressure on such enterprises to produce profits for the community’s benefit could make them reluctant to regulate the sale of alcohol. Clubs also risk continuing (and institutionalising) racially segregated drinking, with the potential for different (lower) standards in the responsible serving of alcohol. In Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek, where the impetus for alcohol restrictions came from strong local women and where responsible serving of alcohol is now being enforced, there has been a noticeable decline (between 20% and 40%) in the number of alcohol-related crimes and alcohol-related admissions to hospitals. Having stricter controls on alcohol has made these towns more pleasant places to live, but the restrictions have not addressed the reasons why people are drinking in the first place. Controls on alcohol supply help mitigate the harms that alcohol causes, but they will not solve the alcohol problem. Restrictions may act as a circuit breaker and provide a ‘breathing space’ for other changes to occur, but they do very little for problem drinkers who will continue to try and obtain alcohol through other means. Alcohol restrictions should go hand in hand with proper enforcement and initiatives that address the underlying causes of the problem, not just the symptoms. Unfortunately, in all the states and territories where alcohol restrictions have been introduced, government has failed or been slow to deliver on promised rehabilitation programs and on real and substantive reforms to education, employment and housing. As a result some residents have transferred their addiction to other drugs and others have found ways to circumvent the law by bringing alcohol in illegally. The gradual erosion of the benefits of alcohol restrictions highlights the futility of introducing restrictions without addressing the aimlessness and boredom of lives lived on welfare. Details: St. Leonards, NSW, Australia: Centre for Independent Studies, 2011. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: CIS Policy Monograph 116: Accessed August 10, 2012 at: http://cis.org.au/images/stories/policy-monographs/pm-116.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://cis.org.au/images/stories/policy-monographs/pm-116.pdf Shelf Number: 125952 Keywords: AboriginalsAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Alcohol RestrictionsAlcoholismIndigenous Peoples |
Author: Stough, Con Title: An evaluation of the Standardised Field Sobriety Tests for the detection of impairment associated with cannabis with and without alcohol Summary: Reports indicate that in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, 23.5% of drivers in fatal accidents had consumed drugs other than alcohol, and that 29.1% of drivers had a Blood alcohol contentration (BAC) level of 0.05% or higher. Alcohol has been detected in combination with drugs in almost 10% of cases. Cannabis was most prevalent among drugs other than alcohol detected in specimens (13.5%) (Drummer et al., 2003). The combination of drugs as an influence on road traffic accidents is becoming a growing concern and research has been conducted to identify how these drugs impair performance. Krueger & Vollrath (2000) reported that recent consumption of cannabis improved lane positioning; however, when combined with alcohol, lane position deviated, and participants drove faster. The consumption of low dose and high dose cannabis alone has also been associated with an increase in vehicle lane weaving (straddling solid and barrier lines) (Papafotiou, 2004b). Furthermore, a trend towards greater braking latency after consumption of higher doses of cannabis has been reported (Ligouri et al., 1998). Generally, alcohol has been reported to increase hazardous simulated driving, and cannabis has been reported to slow a driver’s speed (Stein et al., 1983). The findings of several studies have directly suggested that the effect of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption on driving performance may be greater for nonregular cannabis users than for regular cannabis users (Marks & MacAvoy, 1989; Wright and Terry, 2002; Papafotiou, 2004c). Wright and Terry (2002) also provide evidence to suggest that regular cannabis users may develop cross-tolerance to the effects of drugs and alcohol. In Victoria, Australia, Standardised Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) have been introduced as means of testing for impairment in drivers who have consumed drugs other than alcohol. The use of SFSTs, although designed for the detection of alcohol-intoxicated drivers (up to 0.08%), has been implemented in programs for the detection of drugs other than alcohol. To date, one study exists that has evaluated the sensitivity of the SFST battery to predict drug intoxication and driving impairment. This project assessed the relationship between each individual sobriety test (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand test) and individual scored signs of the SFSTs with the administration of cannabis (Papafotiou et al., 2004a). Papafotiou et al. (2004a) found that, unlike in the case of alcohol where the HGN test is reported to be the best test for impairment associated with the administration of alcohol, in the case of cannabis the test best related to impairment is the One Leg Stand test. This finding highlights the need for additional research into the relationship between performance on the SFST battery and drug intoxication (drugs other than alcohol). The present study had several aims: to examine the effects of cannabis and cannabis together with alcohol on driving performance; to examine the effects of cannabis and alcohol on Standardised Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) performance; to examine the efficiency of SFSTs to predict driving performance associated with the administration of cannabis and alcohol; to examine any differences between the effects of cannabis and alcohol on performance in regular cannabis users and non-regular cannabis users; and to examine any differences between SFSTs ratings by researchers (Swinburne University) and SFSTs ratings by police officers (Victoria Police) in order to identify the inter-rater reliability of SFSTs. Details: Payneham, Australia: National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund (NDLERF), 2006. 126p. Source: NDLERF Monography Series No. 17: Internet Resource: Accessed August 30, 2012 at http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/pub/Monograph_17.pdf http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/pub/Monograph_17.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/pub/Monograph_17.pdf http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/pub/Monograph_17.pdf Shelf Number: 126174 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Driving Under the Influence (Australia)Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Cannabis (AuDrug-Impaired Driving, Cannabis (Australia)Drugs and Driving, Cannabis (Australia)Drunk Driving (Australia)Sobriety Checkpoints, Tests (Australia) |
Author: Miller, Peter Title: The Role of Alcohol in Crime and Disorder Summary: Four out of five Australians aged over 14 years report being recent drinkers and one in five report drinking seven or more drinks on a single occasion at least monthly. Two-thirds (61 per cent) of 18–29-year-olds report consuming alcohol for the purpose of getting drunk. The annual cost of alcohol-related harm in Australia is estimated between $15.63 and $36 billion, depending on the model used and whether harm to others is included in the model. The personal cost of alcohol-related trauma to many individuals is overwhelming. Virtually every type of alcohol-related harm is on the rise in Australia. This report provides a review of the literature and statistics related to alcohol consumption and crime and disorder in Australia and Victoria. This paper is part of a ‘suite’ of resources for government (local, state and federal), the justice sector, health professionals and associated agencies. It offers an overview of proven and promising strategies for reducing alcohol-influenced crime and disorder. Details: Melbourne, Australia: Australian Drug Foundation, 2012. 20p. Source: Prevention Research Quarterly No. 18: Internet Resource: Accessed October 10, 2012 at http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/attachments/691_PRQ_CrimeandDisorder_FINAL.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/attachments/691_PRQ_CrimeandDisorder_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 126667 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Alcohol Use and Abuse (Australia)Alcohol-Related Crime, AggressionCosts of Crime (Australia) |
Author: Streker, Peter Title: Under the Influence: What local governments can do to reduce drug and alcohol related harms in their communities Summary: Local governments generally have played a limited role with illicit drug-related issues, as they are typically addressed by the federal and state governments’ law enforcement or health service providers. Local governments’ role in alcohol management is more pronounced, however, as alcohol is consumed by thousands of their residents each week in their municipalities’ businesses, sports clubs and other facilities. Local governments recognise that, on the one hand, alcohol can offer a number of benefits to a local community and, on the other hand, it increases a number of serious risks to the health, wellbeing and safety of residents and visitors. Alcohol plays a central role in vibrant social gatherings each week and is one of the nation’s most popular drugs, with 72.6 per cent of Australian adults consuming alcohol at moderate levels. The entertainment and hospitality industries that serve alcohol provide local jobs and stimulate a vibrant night time economy that extends beyond petrol stations and fast food outlets. Indeed, most local governments are themselves sponsors or hosts of functions, events and festivals where alcohol is served. While the overall consumption of alcohol has remained relatively stable over the last decade, some Australians —particularly young people—continue to consume at levels that put them at risk of long and short term harm. One out of every 10 Victorians drink at risky levels at least once per week4 and approximately 700 Victorians die from the effects of alcohol each year. The National Preventative Health Taskforce (NPHT) has calculated that more than 42 million incidents of binge drinking occur in Australian communities each year—most of which would have occurred within the nation’s 565 local government areas. In addition to the long-term health risks of alcohol-related diseases to residents, local governments are also confronted by the repercussions of alcohol-related assaults, injuries, property damage and other forms of anti-social or illegal behaviour. The NPHT1 has reported that 84 per cent of Australians were concerned about alcohol-related impacts in their community and other research found that nearly threequarters of adults had been negatively affected by another person’s drinking in the previous 12 months. Australian local governments have an important role in preventing acute and long-term harms from illicit drugs and alcohol in their neighbourhoods. This paper discusses some practical steps being trialled to reduce harms in communities, and provides an overview of local governments’ most promising future directions. It may be used by local governments to coordinate effective action across departments, with local partners and other tiers of government. Victorian legislation (e.g. Local Government Act 1989 and Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008) has been used to populate many of the paper’s examples. These details will vary across other states and territories. Details: Melbourne: Australian Drug Foundation, 2012. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Prevention Research Quarterly, No. 19: Accessed March 8, 2013 at: http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/attachments/747_PRQ_localgov_2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/attachments/747_PRQ_localgov_2012.pdf Shelf Number: 127868 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)AlcoholismBinge DrinkingDrunk and Disorderly |
Author: Hunter, Nichole, Kenneally, Brianna Title: Monitoring the Adelaide Dry Area - An Update Summary: This Evaluation Report is divided into two sections. The first section focusses on the six key objectives of the Adelaide Dry Area Trial and seeks to identify whether these objectives are being achieved. The second section outlines possible strategies for on-going monitoring. Details: Adelaide, SA: South Australia Department of Justice, Office of Crime Statistics and Research, 2005. 193p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2013 at: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/DryArea2005.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/DryArea2005.pdf Shelf Number: 107695 Keywords: Alcohol Law EnforcementAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Alcoholism |
Author: Hunter, Nichole Title: Monitoring the Adelaide Dry Area Summary: A Dry area is a designated area where the consumption and possession of alcohol in unsealed containers is prohibited under the Liquor Licensing Act 1997. This report focuses on the effectiveness of the City of Adelaide Dry Area Tral. The first section of the report focuses on the six key objectives of the Area Trial and seeks to identify whether these objectives are being achieved. The second secion outlines possible strategies for on-going monitoring. Details: South Australia: Office of Crime Statistics and Research, 2004. 238p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2013 at: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/DryArea.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/DryArea.pdf Shelf Number: 128175 Keywords: Alcohol Law EnforcementAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Alcoholism |
Author: Snowball, Lucy Title: Is the Decrease in Assaults at Licensed Premises being Driven by Changes in Staff Reporting Rates? Summary: Aim: To determine whether changes to legislation and regulation of licensed premises have affected the willingness of staff in both Top 100 and unranked premises to report assaults on licensed premises. Method: A random sample of 1600 assaults over the period from January 2008 and December 2011, half from Top 100 premises and half from unranked premises. Kendall’s test for trend was used to determine whether there had been a change in behaviour over the period. Results: No change was detected in either series. Conclusion: The changes to legislation and regulation do not appear to have affected staff reporting rates in either Top 100 or unranked licensed premises overall. However changes in the behaviour of individual licensed premises cannot be ruled out. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2013. 3p. Source: Internet Resource: Bureau Brief, Issue paper no. 87: Accessed August 6, 2013 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/BB87.pdf/$file/BB87.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/BB87.pdf/$file/BB87.pdf Shelf Number: 129551 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)AssaultsDisorderly Conduct |
Author: Palmer, Darren Title: ID Scanners in the Night-Time Economy: Social Sorting or Social Order? Summary: This project investigates the introduction of ID scanners in 'high risk' entertainment venues in Geelong (Vic) as part of an attempt to enhance community safety. Recently the inner city area of Geelong has been transformed into a significant 'night-time economy'. However, such developments come with potential harms, such as increases in crime and anti--social behaviour. Networked ID scanners are a unique innovation introduced to address these issues. The project documents what has been done, why, with what impact and what potential (or actual) harms exist to serve as a model for future policy and programme development. The research has identified the current interest in ID scanners across Australia and either planned or actual implementation of scanner networks in all jurisdictions. Such developments point to the need for immediate policy development in what is effectively an unregulated security practice, somewhat similar to the initial introduction of CCTV. Policy recommendations stemming from this research are summarised here and discussed in more detail under 'Conclusions and Recommendations' at the end of this report. Details: Criminology Research Council, 2011. 182p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 1, 2013 at: http://www.criminologyresearchcouncil.gov.au/reports/1213/42-0809-FinalReport.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.criminologyresearchcouncil.gov.au/reports/1213/42-0809-FinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 131579 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Night-Time EconomyNuisance Behaviors and Disorders |
Author: Pennay, Amy Title: Prohibiting public drinking in an urban area: Determining the impacts on police, the community and marginalised groups Summary: Public drinking laws, which are the mandate of local councils in some jurisdictions such as Victoria (but state/territory legislation in others), have proliferated across urban centres in Australia over the past 15 years without any evidence of their effectiveness. Previous evaluations of public drinking laws have shown that they often result in negative impacts to marginalised groups and lead to displacement, but also improve perceptions of safety among the community. Previous evaluations have shown little or no evidence that public drinking bans reduce congregations of drinkers or reduce alcohol-related crime or harm. The purpose of this project was to build on previous work and evaluate public drinking laws in three local government areas (LGAs) in Melbourne where public drinking remains a contentious issue: the City of Maribyrnong, the City of Darebin and the City of Yarra. The objectives of this project were threefold: - to evaluate the implementation of the prohibition of public drinking; - to evaluate the effectiveness of the prohibition of public drinking; and - to evaluate the impact of the prohibition of public drinking across three distinct LGAs in Melbourne. This mixed-methods evaluation involved seven key data collection components: - a media analysis of public drinking and public drinking bans; - sessions of daytime and night-time observation; - in-depth interviews with drinkers; - in-depth interviews with police, traders and other stakeholders; - a household survey mailed to residents; - focus groups with residents; and - analysis of ambulance and police data. Details: Canberra: National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, 2014. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Monograph Series No. 49: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph49.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph49.pdf Shelf Number: 133006 Keywords: Alcohol EnforcementAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Nuisance Behaviors and DisordersPublic SpaceUrban Areas |
Author: Agnew-Pauley, Winifred Title: x2 Summary: Aim: To determine whether there has been any change in the rate of reporting of assaults on licensed premises by staff in 2012-2013 in both the top 100 and unranked licensed premises for assaults. This paper also briefly examines the characteristics of both offenders and victims of assaults on licensed premises. Method: A random sample of 800 assaults (400 from top 100 premises and 400 from unranked premises) from January 2012 to December 2013 were tabulated and coded for relevant information. SPSS was then used to determine proportions of victims and offenders in various categories and any trends in reporting. Trend tests were carried out using x2. Results: There was no statistically significant trend in the proportion of reports of assaults emanating from staff on licensed premises. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2014. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper No. 99: Accessed December 8, 2014 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l4/bb99.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l4/bb99.pdf Shelf Number: 134271 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)AssaultsCrime Statistics |
Author: Miller, Peter Title: Interventions for reducing alcohol supply, alcohol demand and alcohol-related harm Summary: This project synthesises existing evidence and knowledge to improve our understanding of good practice in minimising the range of harms associated with alcohol misuse, especially supply and demand reduction strategies. It builds on the literature by using a Delphi study to answer many of the existing questions for which no research literature yet exists. All interventions that aim to reduce the supply of alcohol discussed in this report have received substantial evidence for their effectiveness. Specifically, reducing alcohol outlet opening hours, increasing minimum legal purchase age, reducing alcohol outlet density and controlling alcohol sales times have each undergone a vast number of evaluations and have been found to be effective in reducing the supply of alcohol and reducing the harms associated with its consumption. The most promising supply-reduction interventions identified were reducing trading hours for packaged liquor and reductions in the types and size of liquor that can be sold, the public listing of 'violent venues&rsquo' and serving only mid-strength beverages after midnight in late night venues. Demand reduction strategies appear to be effective; however, there is a lack of research or evaluations in the area. Increasing alcohol excise and taxation has been found to be very cost-effective, as well as being effective in reducing the consumption of alcohol and often results in overall social benefit. However, research for other demand reduction strategies, such as family-based alcohol misuse prevention and developmental prevention interventions is still in its infancy. Although such interventions have received some support for their effectiveness, further research needs to be undertaken. The most effective harm reduction interventions were the Safer Bars program, targeted policing interventions (including 'consequence policing') and the introduction of plastic glassware. The most promising harm-reduction interventions identified were alcohol management plans in the Northern Territory, the introduction of mandatory security plans for venues, RSA marshals and mandatory high-visibility clothing. The study has identified a large number of interventions for the reduction of alcohol-related harm, but the majority of these have minimal evidence bases. A further concern is that the bulk of interventions have been developed to reduce alcohol-related harm and as a result, there exists few supply and demand reduction strategies. While the most effective solutions have been found to act at the societal level, there is a clear demand for more interventions that focus at community, social, family, or individual levels, even if they are not going to have the same level of impact. Details: Canberra: National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund (NDLERF), 2015. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed April 8, 2015 at: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph-57.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph-57.pdf Shelf Number: 135187 Keywords: Alcohol Law EnforcementAlcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Disorderly ConductDrunk and DisorderlyHarm ReductionNuisance Behaviors |