Thursday 14 February 2013

Local Alcohol Policy To Proceed At Pace

Christchurch City Councillors have today voted to prepare a provisional Christchurch-specific Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) before the October local body elections.

Councillors were unanimous that a LAP – a provision of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 – should be prepared as far as legally possible this year so that it is ready to notify after 18 December 2013 (a requirement of the legislation).

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the Council considered whether or not it was appropriate to develop a policy now when it cannot complete the process because of the October elections and the timing requirements of the legislation.

“There was a strong feeling that our community wants to address alcohol issues sooner rather than later. While it is not usual process for a policy development process to be commenced by one Council and completed by another, we must proceed at pace on this important issue. The objective is to have provisional LAP prepared before October.

“This policy will also give the hospitality sector greater certainty as they rebuild and help make our city a vibrant and welcoming place.”

The LAP is an important piece of work through which the Council can regulate specific aspects of liquor licensing such as opening hours for licensed premises, controlling the location of licensed premises and making re-entry restrictions to bars in the early hours of the morning (one-way door restrictions).

A lot of preliminary work has already been carried out by staff to help with the preparation of the draft policy, including a survey of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula residents, forums for interested stakeholders and collating of data from health agencies and the Police.

Today’s decision at the full Council meeting means the draft LAP will be prepared, followed by community consultation which will help shape a provisional LAP. This will be publicly notified in early 2014 and be open to appeals. Final adoption of a LAP would likely be around June 2014 .

ENDS

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"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>