Victoria’s Police Minister Anthony Carbines is adamant cops “will be ready” to implement the government’s new approach to public intoxication from next month.
Public drunkenness will be decriminalised across Victoria on November 7 – Melbourne Cup Day – as the government moves to deal with the issue from a health perspective.
Police will no longer be able to arrest individuals simply for being drunk in public, with the government instead opting to introduce services such as a sobering centre.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton recently said cops wanted “some additional powers” ahead of the move but the government rejected their pleas.
Mr Carbines told reporters on Wednesday police were well equipped to deal with the change from a criminal justice-based response to public drunkenness.
“Victoria Police are very confident, they’ve given strong commitments and been very clear that they will be ready – and I know they will be ready – to implement the law as it applies in regard to intoxication in November,” he said.
“They’re well trained and they will be ready. This really is about a health response. Health have the lead here, and no one’s going to be left.
“The appropriate responses where people want a health response, a health response will be available, and police will retain all their powers under the law to keep people safe.”
Pressed on whether he could guarantee no person will be left on the street, Mr Carbines reiterated individuals will be provided with appropriate health support.
“And those who need to be kept safe in our community will continue to rely on Victoria Police to do that.”
Mr Carbines would not say what additional powers cops had sought, directing reporters to instead ask that question of Victoria Police.
“We’ve had lots of conversations and lots of determinations about making sure police have the powers that they need to keep Victorians safe,” he said.
“We’re moving here to a health model, and a health model is the best outcome to make sure vulnerable people don’t find themselves in prison for the wrong reasons and don’t end up getting the support they need.”
“It will be a very big change for my police officers, a very big change to change from processes and routines that they’ve gotten used to over the journey where they’ve used public drunkenness as an intervention to be able to arrest,” he continued.
“We are very well prepared for that.”
In August it was announced the first permanent sobering centre would be located at 3 Cambridge Street, Collingwood, and operated by cohealth.
The government said it opted for the location because of its proximity to the CBD as well as being close to public transport and St Vincent’s Hospital.
However, nearby residents who claimed they were not consulted about the site have voiced concerns about having “all the drunks of Melbourne” close to home.
“I’m really not keen… and neither are any of the families who’ve lost sleep over it,” resident Sharee Harold told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell in August.
(SKY NEWS)
