Crackdown on alcohol crime

Police on both sides of the Tasman are out in force this weekend, hoping to ensure Christmas is merry, but not a season of alcohol related crime.

Operation Unite is the first joint operation of its type between the two countries and the blitz kicked off this weekend with a new focus on people arriving in town after getting drunk at home.

Alcohol-related crime costs annually costs New Zealand $1.1 billion and Australia $2.14 billion.

In New Zealand a third of crimes in 2007-2008 were carried out by a person affected by alcohol and in serious offences, such as homicides, it was about half of cases.

Each year police here take 21,000 drunk people home or to the cells because they cannot remember where they live.

Police in both countries said they were fed up with the dangerous binge drinking culture in both countries and were planning a series of joint blitzes to crack down on alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour.

NZ Police Assistant Commissioner Viv Rickard said they did not want to spoil people's fun but wanted them to take responsibility for their friends and to get home safely.

They hope to change the culture and challenge people to take responsibility for their own conduct.

Each police district across the two countries was undertaking various methods of cracking down with many targeting licensed premises, central business districts and drink drivers.

"We expect high spirits as people take advantage of the summer festivities, but year on year there are those that take it too far, drink excessively and make very poor decisions. We won't be just standing back and letting this happen," said North Island central district operations manager Inspector David White.

- NZPA