Transtasman crackdown on party season hoons

For 48 hours police throughout New Zealand and Australia will take a united stand against alcohol-fuelled violence.

Operation Unite will kick off on December 11 and 12 - in the thick of Christmas party season - as the first large-scale transtasman operation of its kind.

The idea came from a meeting of the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency in September and was launched in Perth yesterday.

"We [commissioners] saw that alcohol violence was affecting both countries so it was an opportunity to jointly do something and have a couple of action days," said Assistant Commissioner Viv Rickard.

The operation would see a marked increase in enforcement and visibility, but each individual district would manage staffing numbers and targeted spots, he said.

"In New Zealand we have some good data around which licensed establishments cause us problems and will be targeting those at the right time," Mr Rickard said.

"In the Auckland environment there are obviously a ... large number of 24-hour licensed establishments, whereas in the other centres not so much."

Speaking from Perth, Police Commissioner Howard Broad said the "drink to get drunk" culture simply could not continue.

"And that is why we are taking decisive action. While we cannot arrest our way out of this problem, we agree there is a need for stronger policing.

"We are not out to curb enjoyment but instead tackle this problem with a heightened sense of commitment and urgency."

Mr Broad's New South Wales counterpart, Andrew Scipione, said: "There is violence week in, week out and unless the community changes its attitude this violence will continue further."

But the NZ Hospitality Association was wary of the crackdown. Chief executive Bruce Robertson said police needed to take a light-hearted approach.

"We agree with the police that some New Zealanders need to change their approach to the way they drink alcohol," Mr Robertson said.

"But it would be entirely inappropriate if police are out harassing responsible New Zealanders ... It would be counter-productive and cause more trouble than it's going to fix."

But Mr Rickard stressed officers would continue their usual approach of "prevention first and the use of enforcement where required".

"We are smart enough to know this is not the panacea. It will raise the profile, but it will need ongoing attention, not just from us but other organisations," he said.

Alcohol Advisory Council chief executive Gerard Vaughan agreed that curbing New Zealand's drinking culture was not the sole responsibility of police. "We've all got a role to play."

AN AVERAGE DAY

* 62 people are driven home or in police custody because of intoxication
* 100 people drink-drive
* 30 people breach council liquor bans
* About 5923 compulsory and 2743 mobile breath tests are taken

(Statistics provided by NZ Police)