Tamworth’s lockout laws and licence scanning technology in pubs and clubs has been given the thumbs up by patrons and kicked crime to the curb, industry experts say.
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Almost two years since 12.30am lockout laws were introduced, local publicans believe there is generally less crime in our party hot spots, and a recent roll out of licence scanning technology across venues has added to the success.
Their comments follow a statewide survey which revealed almost 60 per cent of NSW voters backed current lockout laws in Sydney. However, a non-scientific online survey conducted on Monday by The Leader showed 38 per cent of voters were in support of the measures to combat antisocial behaviour while 50 per cent believed they were not effective or were undecided.
“It’s clear from the people who speak to us that lockout laws are working and there has been a reduction in alcohol-related violence and alcohol-related vandalism,” said Tamworth Crime Prevention Committee chair Councillor Russell Webb. “Obviously, there’s some of those things still occurring but there is definitely a decline.
“From talking to people, this has also impacted positively on domestic violence to some degree – in saying that I have no evidence of this but people who should know have told me this.”
Cr Webb praised publicans who had worked closely with police and council. He said while the laws were beneficial to the community, they had “to some degree” impacted on some aspects of business, but there were many aspects to a downturn in patronage.
Tamworth Liquor Accord Chairman Roger Rumble also believed fewer people were visiting local pubs and clubs late at night but believed the new laws had certainly reduced crime in the CBD.
Despite not signing up to license scanning technology, calling it an “invasion of privacy”, he said the crime fighting measures had helped. “There’s been a massive downturn in antisocial behaviour. Tamworth seems to be a lot safer place to go out in, which is good.”