By Sergeant Lawrie Drury
Sector Supervisor, Helensburgh Police Station
A JOINT Police operation was recently conducted with the State Crime Command Drug Squad resulting in 374 mature cannabis plants being located in dense bushland on the escarpment. The plants with a street value of $750,000 were later destroyed.
Many of these drug offenders are seen to park their cars on the side of the road or nearby to bushland while they attend to their crops. These vehicles look suspicious as there is usually no person in the vicinity and parked in remote areas. Any such vehicles can be reported to Police for further investigation if necessary.
This year ANZAC Day falls on Easter Monday. Police will be mounting a large, high-visibility Operation to address alcohol-related crime, which includes anti-social behaviour and drink driving offences.
Alcohol-related activities cause a considerable cost to the NSW Police whose main focus is to ensure the safety of the community, reduce incidents of violence and protection of property. A report in 2007 found that it costs the NSW Police almost $50 million a year to deal with alcohol-related activity.
Therefore the Licensee and Police have obligations to ensure the safety of patrons, staff and the community at large by preventing excessive consumption of alcohol on licensed premises.
Briefly, you cannot be intoxicated, or be violent, indecent or quarrelsome on a licensed premises. If you are, then you will be asked to leave and when asked you must leave the premises. Failure to comply will result in a $550 fine or an arrest and charge.