Alcohol fuelled offending prompts warning from Hamilton Police

A valuable tool to remove potential victims and offenders is how Hamilton Police are describing the City's liquor ban following a night of alcohol fuelled arrests.

Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said there were about 27 alcohol related arrests overnight, the majority of which were for breaching of the liquor ban or alcohol related disorder.

"It wasn't all rats and mice stuff though with a number of serious incidents taking place including a suspicious package being left outside a bar on Hood St later identified as a sparkler bomb and a serious assault on a bouncer outside a Victoria St bar that left the victim with a broken jaw."

Ten minutes after officers attended the assault on the bouncer they were back at the bar helping to remove an unconscious man found lying in his own vomit.

"In cases like this its a case of not what we're drinking but how we are drinking that is of concern to Police and the vulnerable positions people are putting themselves in."

Officers dealt with a variety of violent incidents after midnight including a group of five men fighting on Victoria St followed by reports of two men being held up by a pair of males who claimed to have firearms.

"The victims described a 'protuberance' in the front of one of the offender's trousers, it wasn't until these victims were picked up and then offenders from another fight were brought back to the station that the victims recognised one of the robbers and one offender confessed the pair had been carrying an imitation handgun at the time of the robbery.

"It is of concern that each of these fights and the robbery involved the consumption of alcohol as did a series of domestic incidents attended by my staff."

Mr Lindsay said with situations like those encountered by Police overnight tools such as the City Safe cameras, the liquor ban and the Alcohol Accord were invaluable in keeping people safe.

"The liquor ban allows us to remove potential victims, or even offenders, off the streets before their drinking gets them into situations they later forget.

"The objective of the Alcohol Accord is to ensure Hamilton is an enjoyable place to spend a night out while the close relationship with Council helps us ensure it is also a safe one but we need night time revellers to take some responsibility for their own safety."

With a large number of visitors expected to visit Hamilton as the World Rowing Championships at Karapiro wind up over the weekend and University and Polytechnic exams are completed Police are expecting large numbers of revellers in the City over the weekend.

Mr Lindsay said Police wanted revellers to have a night to remember, not one to regret.

"Visitors and locals need to be aware Police will be having a liquor ban enforcement focus not just for this weekend, but over the whole summer.

"There is a 24-hour liquor ban in the City's CBD and a City wide ban on the consumption of alcohol in public places after 10pm, we want people to have an enjoyable time- but not at the expense of others."