Hi everyone
Following the significant issues with drunken public behaviour over the last Christmas / New Year period and the large number of complaints they had from locals, Police have recently advised they will be taking a much tougher approach to any similar behaviour this coming Xmas / New Year holiday period.
This will include enforcement of the existing alcohol ban. The ban is imposed by Council bylaw and has been in place for a number of years. It stipulates that alcohol is banned in all public areas of Omaha from 7pm to 7am during the months of daylight saving.
To do this, the police will be having a much greater presence than last year, including bringing resources in from outside the area to increase both the number of patrols and the number of officers available to respond to the kind of issues and violence they had to deal with early this year.
We can also expect increased patrols over the coming long weekend.
In addition, they will be confiscating any alcohol where there is a breach and also issuing fines. Serious behaviour similar to what they experienced last holidays will lead to arrests.
In conjunction with the police plans, Council have advised they will be upgrading / replacing the existing, faded, alcohol ban signage around Omaha. Their approach is obviously one of no surprises.
There was a very strong feeling from the community after the problems early this year that the behaviours were more than “just a few teenagers having fun” and were totally unacceptable. Police and Council have realised this and it’s pleasing that they are responding to the community’s concerns.
