Nightclub owner clashes with police
A nightclub owner in Geraldton has clashed with police over a proposed 4am lockout trial due to start tomorrow.
Acting officer-in-charge of Geraldton Police Senior Sergeant Gary Neil announced on Wednesday the Saturday and Sunday morning lockouts had the support of nightclub owners.
“They’ve agreed to enforce it and it has their support,” he said. However, yesterday Up nightclub owner Shane Van Styn said his club would not be participating.
Mr Van Styn would not elaborate on the circumstances, saying only that he met with police yesterday and was not happy with the outcome.
“There is no lockout,” he said. “There won’t be a lockout at Up. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Snr Sgt Neil said at this stage he could not comment on the circumstances surrounding Up nightclub.
Snr Sgt Neil said the fourmonth trial was aimed at reducing the number of people on the streets at that hour.
Vibe nightclub is still believed to be participating.Community opinion is divided over the new measures, with some calling for stricter lockouts and others criticising the move.
“Yes it’s a good idea but I think it should be earlier like 3am,” Robert Hardie wrote on the Geraldton Guardian Facebook page.
“If you can’t make the night clubs by then you’re more likely had enough to drink already.”
However Bianca Stock said it was another example of “nanny State” attitudes.
“What about the people who want to go out for a smoke?” she said.
Rebecca Goodwin-Parry asked if the new measures were targeting the right people.
“Are the trouble-makers actually nightclub patrons or people who couldn’t get in in the first place?
“I lived very close to the nightclubs for seven years and the majority of trouble-makers were people sitting in their cars nearby, street drinking,” she wrote.
CALEB SAMSON
