Halls Creek's bottle shop owner Peter Tierney has appealed against liquor bans imposed on the Kimberley town.

Police released statistics yesterday to back their argument that the three-week ban on takeaway sales of full-strength alcohol had already made a significant difference in Halls Creek.

Average weekly arrests were down 48.1 per cent and charges had dropped 45.8 per cent.

It is understood Mr Tierney hopes to suspend the restrictions until his company can get a full appeal hearing in the Liquor Commission. An interim hearing is on June 15.

Halls Creek's only other licensee, Kimberley Hotel owner Martin Peirson-Jones, is a party to the hearing and can make a submission.

DAWN GIBSON