Qld: New rules for handling drunks

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2000
Qld: New rules for handling drunks

BRISBANE, Feb 17 AAP - New legislation to be introduced to Queensland Parliament this
year would allow police to take drunks home or to safe havens rather than police watchhouses.

Police Minister Tom Barton said the new laws would help reduce the potential for deaths
in custody and ease the pressure on courts and police, The Courier-Mail newspaper reported.

The legislation would allow police to take drunks straight from the street and into
the control of any person who appeared to be a suitable carer.

Under current laws intoxicated people could be moved to diversionary centres only after
they had been processed at a police watchhouse.

The move was designed to make watchhouses a last resort for holding drunks.

"Police will be able to arrest people for public drunkenness and `un-arrest' them into
the care of suitable people, such as managers at diversionary centres," Mr Barton said.

"The police can also pass intoxicated people over to the care of others who the police
assess to be suitable and willing to provide supervision and adequate care."

Mr Barton said drunks would not be taken home if there was a risk of domestic disputes
or confrontations.

AAP jfs/bdm

KEYWORD: DRUNKS

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