A recent spate of late-night violence and assaults on police could spark the deployment of extra officers in Civic and closer scrutiny of nightclubs and other licensees.
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The nightlife in winter is typically quiet but there have been several disturbing incidents in recent weeks, two of which have involved police officers being assaulted.
A 28-year-old man allegedly spat blood and saliva at the eyes and mouths of two officers early on Sunday morning, after they had attempted to arrest a group for causing a disturbance on Alinga Street.
Just one night earlier, another officer was punched and kicked while trying to arrest a man who was hitting the window of London Burgers and Beers Caf Bar in Civic.
The alleged assault left the officer with a chipped tooth, a bleeding nose and facial scratches.
A week earlier, 41-year-old Irish tourist Timothy McCarthy was left fighting for his life after an alleged early-morning assault outside the Quick and Go convenience store on Alinga Street.
ACT Policing acting Chief Police Officer David McLean said yesterday that police were planning ways to further curb the unacceptable violence occurring near Canberras nightspots.
Commander McLean issued a strong indication that ACT Policing would boost officer numbers "at key points" in Civic. General duties and city beat officers would also be given more scope to scrutinise nightclub owners over licensing requirements, something that until now had been left mainly to the Alcohol Crime Targeting Team. "Over the course of this week, we'll be having some more very focussed conversations on how we intend to deal with the recent spate of ugly incidents that are occurring in the nightclub districts around Canberra," Commander McLean said.
"You can reasonably expect to have a fairly swift response from ACT Policing to deal with future behaviour of that nature.
"Our liaison with the management of venues, patrons within venues, will extend, and it will expand into our general duties patrol and our beats policing.
"If you are prepared to engage in anti-social behaviour, you can be prepared to be confronted by ACT Policing."
Police Minister Simon Corbell denied that the recent spate of violence indicated a failure of last years liquor licensing reforms, which sought to curb anti-social behaviour.
Mr Corbell said the new laws had reduced the number of alcohol-related incidents in the first three months of their operation by 30 per cent.
"To date, the statistics I have seen are very encouraging," Mr Corbell said.
"Obviously, though, it doesnt mean that we dont see some violent offences in the city.
"Assaults against police are a very serious matter and they should not be tolerated and they will not be tolerated by police or the Government."
Mr Corbell said the Government would keep a close eye on violence across Canberra's nightspots, and would continue to monitor the success of the new liquor laws.