Police chief backs booze moves | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Wanganui police chief Inspector Duncan McLeod has welcomed the Government's proposals to tighten up on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Mr McLeod said alcohol was the drug that most impacted on offending and victimisation in New Zealand and therefore caused the most problems for police.

"At least 18 per cent of the police budget is taken up dealing with the impacts of alcohol misuse. Alcohol issues impact on all facets of police work - drink driving, family and public place violence, youth issues, homicides and the management and care of intoxicated people," he said.

About a third of all recorded offences are committed by an offender who consumed alcohol prior to committing the offence.

Mr McLeod said police did not consider that the present liquor laws appropriately regulated the drinking environment and strongly supported the need for reform.

Police made a comprehensive submission to the commission because alcohol misuse was a crucial issue for families and communities and because reducing alcohol related harm was a key focus for police.

He said police supported local solutions to local issues through Local Alcohol Plans operating within a legislative environment that promoted the sensible consumption of liquor.

Police had increased enforcement levels for alcohol-related activities in recent years, including liquor ban enforcement, the number of compliance checks of licensed premises, the number of enforcement applications taken to the Liquor Licensing Authority, and an increase in the number of Controlled Purchase Operations.

"Even with these increased enforcement levels, continued alcohol-related offending remains a significant issue for police," Mr McLeod said.