Sporting clubs targeted

By Shaun Inguanzo
POLICE will target Casey’s sporting clubs to stamp out alcohol-driven cultures that encourage youths to drink drive or cause damage to surrounding properties.
Region Five Assistant Commissioner Paul Evans and Superintendent Neville Taylor told the News that police would randomly visit sporting clubs over the next 12 months to ensure they were adhering to liquor licensing laws.
Mr Evans said police in Casey would receive their intel from sporting club neighbours, passers-by, and members of sporting clubs who disapprove of alcohol abuse, and would investigate any reports.
“The youth population is three per cent higher in Casey than the state average,” Mr Evans said.
Supt Taylor said police aimed to change the drinking culture of many sporting clubs that was passed on to young people – and often resulted in road trauma or public disorder.
“We want clubs in Casey to embrace a better culture that doesn’t involve alcohol,” Supt Taylor said.
“So we will be making a lot more visits to licensed clubs and will be looking for good compliance, particularly from the youth, associated with each sporting club.”
Meanwhile, the City of Casey recorded a three per cent increase in overall crime for 2007/08, according to police data.
Theft of GPS units rose from 1632 in 2006/07 to 6787 in 07/08, prompting Mr Evans and Supt Taylor to urge motorists to take their units out of the car when not driving.
Mr Evans said that despite the overall increase, assaults dropped by four per cent and robbery by 9.6 per cent.
A focus on graffiti by both police and Casey Council has led to a 7.9 per cent drop in property damage. Residential burglary dropped by 9.1 per cent and handling stolen goods rose by 189.3 per cent with more than 650 offences detected.
Mr Evans said Casey police would also focus on reducing burglaries, theft of and from vehicles, and road safety this coming financial year.