Commissioner Howard Broad today welcomed the release of the Law Commission's consultation document reviewing liquor legislation - "Alcohol In Our Lives".
"Alcohol is a key driver of offending and victimisation, and places a considerable strain on Police resources. Police data around the misuse of alcohol is disturbing" said Commissioner Broad.
• At least a third of all offenders apprehended by police have consumed alcohol prior to their arrest. This rises to two-thirds of all offenders during the weekend period.
• Around half of all victims or offenders involved in a homicide are affected by alcohol.
• In 2007/8 police had to take over 21,000 people from public settings to places of safety due to their high levels of intoxication. Many of these people end up in police cells until they sober up.
Police has actively supported the Law Commission in its review, including suggestions for solutions to reduce the impact of alcohol misuse, facilitating Law Commission staff to watch police deal with alcohol issues, seconding a police official to the Law Commission and the production of police data to support the review.
"Police recognise that legislation change is not the sole solution to reducing alcohol related harm, but we do consider that it is appropriate to be reviewing the legislation" said Commissioner Broad.
Police will now review and consider all the options proposed by the Law Commission and provide feedback. Police are unable to comment on the specific proposals in the Law Commission's document during the public consultation period which is now underway.
Ends
Contact:
Grant Ogilvie, Senior Media Advisor, Police National Headquarters - 04 474 9476, 027 236 9974.
Editors note:
Further details of police data on alcohol can be found in the National Alcohol Assessment at www.police.govt.nz/resources