The ACT's top cop says police have enough resources to clamp down on drunken revellers set to flock to dozens of new licensed venues in Canberra this summer.
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Twenty officers on ACT Policing's regional targeting team will take a "zero-tolerance approach" to alcohol-related violence, anti-social behaviour, drink spiking and sexual assault as part of the Safe Summer campaign.
Chief police officer Rudi Lammers and police minister Joy Burch joined representatives from Canberra's clubs and licensed venues to launch the annual public safety push on Thursday.
A heightened police presence will patrol the ACT's entertainment precincts and road networks until the end of February.
Australian Hotels Association ACT general manager Brad Watts said more than 40 licensed venues had opened in the past few months, with many popping up in Braddon, Kingston Foreshore and New Acton.
Chief police officer Lammers said police resources were on par with last year but were sufficient to deal with an increased number of revellers.
"My regional targeting team will be visiting every bar, club and nightclub right throughout Canberra during the next few months to make sure people behave responsibly, drink responsibly and get home safely.
"We know where the hotspots are, we know where the front doors and we know where some of the drinking problems are and we target those every day of the week and that keeps us safe."
He said police would not hesitate to dish out on-the-spot fines.
"If you're in a nightclub, bar or club and you act disorderly you run the risk of getting arrested and charged and held in custody, at the very least you could attract a fine of $220 .
"If you're in one of the licensed premises and you refuse to leave you could attract a fine of $440."
Chief police officer Lammers said drunks lost the capacity to make sound decisions and were more vulnerable to crimes, such as assault, and injuries.
There were 243 alcohol-related assaults, or at least one every two days, in the 2013-14 financial year, latest police figures showed.
A string of booze-fuelled assaults in the CBD this year prompted calls for drastic measures, including one-punch laws, greater powers for police and a violent venues-type list, to curb drunken violence.
But Mr Watts said existing measures, such as the territory's liquor licensing laws, should be utilised to their full capacity before tougher options were explored.
"There'll be strict guidelines in place through police and at our venues to ensure people enjoy a safe and responsible night out."
Clubs ACT chief executive Jeff House said only a minority of patrons did the wrong thing.
"For those people who are determined to cause trouble no matter what, we do want the police to use the full extent of those powers they have the failure to quit notices we want to see many more of those issued where they're required to be issued."
Police said last year's summer campaign saw a 39 per cent drop in alcohol-related violence and a 47 per cent decline in fines issued for people who urinated in public compared to the previous summer.
They said there was also a 22 per cent decline in the number of fines issued for anti-social behaviour.
Ms Burch urged Canberrans to enjoy the season's festivities responsibly and safely.
"And recognise that when we're out across our nightclubs and enjoying ourselves there is absolutely no tolerance for anti-social behaviour or alcohol-related violence or any behaviour that puts your friends and other members of our community at risk."