Broad: Detox centres 30 years overdue

Howard Broad

Police have been waiting for nearly 30 years for a Government to set up detoxification centres in major cities where drunks can sober up, Commissioner Howard Broad says.

The abuse of alcohol is one of the major issues police deal with every day, Mr Broad told TV One's Q+A programme yesterday.

Eighteen per cent of the police annual budget went towards dealing with alcohol issues, he said. Police operating expenses for the year to June 2009 were $1.37 billion.

Police Association vice-president Stuart Mills said dealing with intoxicated people in police cells put them at risk and gobbled up police resources.

"If we can't take them to a detox centre, obviously they head to the police cells. It takes up our time in the sense of custody and they are a risk because they are intoxicated.

"A place where they just sober up and go out again the next night isn't going to be very beneficial.

"It would be better to have a detox centre that offered a form of assistance where their addiction is addressed."

Mr Broad told Q+A police used to be able to arrest drunken people in public places until a law change in 1981.

"The quid pro quo for losing the arrest-for-drunk power was that there would be these detoxification centres set up all round the country.

"Well, not one has ever been set up," Mr Broad said.

"My staff have to deal with 40 people a day who are so drunk they cannot look after themselves, 300 offences a day we determine have as a primary driver the abuse of alcohol."

Crime statistics released this month showed an increase in violent crime, including a jump in the number of murders by 25 per cent on the previous year and a 9.2 per cent increase in reported violent crime.

Mr Broad said police had been asking Governments for detox centres for years, including this year.

"And it has not happened."

Police Minister Judith Collins could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Labour law and order spokesman Clayton Cosgrove said the idea was worth exploring.

"Mr Broad is our top police official and I would think the Government would listen, but I have my doubts, given that this minister has cut his budget by $21 million."

The Government is reviewing the Sale of Liquor Act and is expecting a report from the Law Commission this month.

Justice Minister Simon Power has said he expects changes, but has not elaborated.

The police submission to the Law Commission had several proposals, including reducing trading hours, increasing the purchase age, and lowering the legal blood alcohol level.