A little-known restructure to the WA Police Licensing Enforcement Division, not long after the high-profile liquor licensing reforms of May 2007, has created uncertainty in some parts of the hospitality sector.
A little-known restructure to the WA Police Licensing Enforcement Division, not long after the high-profile liquor licensing reforms of May 2007, has created uncertainty in some parts of the hospitality sector.
A little-known restructure to the WA Police Licensing Enforcement Division, not long after the high-profile liquor licensing reforms of May 2007, has created uncertainty in some parts of the hospitality sector.
Although the LED is relatively new, there appears to have been a concerted push to check on licensed premises during the past six to eight months.
"The LED is a relatively new section of the police force which is clearly making its presence felt," Lavan Legal liquor licensing specialist, Dan Mossenson, told WA Business News.
He said the LED, and the 2006 Liquor Control Act with its increased enforcement powers, were indications of a growing policing of the industry.
"It is all pointing to the fact that there is extra policing, regulation and controls when the industry was anticipating greater flexibility and liberalisation," Mr Mossenson said.
The LED is the replacement to a specialised licensing enforcement organisation, the Liquor and Gaming Squad, which was stopped in 1996.
"Since 1996, no-one has really focused on this area," LED detective senior sergeant Shayne Atkins said.
"We do a lot of checking on the premises and make sure the licensees comply with the act. We are getting more proactive and established and try to engage with organisations such as the Australian Hotel Association."
Mr Mossenson said he was aware of fines in the tens of thousands of dollars being imposed on licensees in Perth, with many licensees in country towns having received fines and infringement notices.
WA Business News hears that several licensed venues located around Fremantle's South Terrace were fined recently for staff consumption of alcohol in the alfresco area, after service.
Mr Atkins said about 100 fines were issued by the eight Perth Metro LED subdivisions in the year to June 2008, varying from $200 to $1,000, not including the fines issued by the seven branches in regional WA.
"We focus on the larger, more popular venues around Perth which have a high volume of turnover of patrons and a high level of consumption of liquor; we're not trying to pick on Bob's wine bar around the corner, but we will communicate with those people too," Mr Atkins said.
Although the restructure of the LED happened only a month after the liquor licensing reform was introduced, Jim Freemantle who led the review committee, said it wasn't related to the reform process.