NCJ Number
149732
Date Published
1992
Length
124 pages
Annotation
The Victorian (Australia) Community Council Against Violence consulted security organizations, nightclub owners, police, government agencies, other groups, and members of the public while conducting this inquiry into the extent of violence in and around licensed premises.
Abstract
The statistical information available consistently indicated that about 20 percent of all reported assaults occurred in and around establishments that sell alcoholic beverages. The data suggest that young men as a group were particularly prone to violence, particularly in venues which promoted themselves through gimmicks which encouraged the overconsumption of alcohol. Crowding, poor entertainment, unequal numbers of male and female patrons, violent videos, poor amenities, and poor door control all seemed to contribute to raising the level of violence. Security staff, or "bouncers," often did not adequately fulfill their responsibility of maintaining good order. The information collected suggested that management often exercised inadequate control over the security staff, that security staff often used unreasonable force, that security staff too often initiated violence toward patrons, and that they were often ineffective in defusing potentially violent situations. While venue management needs to assume some responsibility for the violence that occurs in areas outside, but in the proximity, of licensed establishments, there is also a need for increased police patrols in these areas. Some of these issues can be resolved through reformulating licensing procedures, while others need to be addressed at the community and law enforcement levels. 6 appendixes