“One Way Door” Remains Open

The one-way door policy designed to reduce violence in inner-city Christchurch was not without its faults, but it worked well enough to be extended.

The Christchurch Central Business District Alcohol Accord was implemented from October 2006 to March 2007 in a bid to reduce alcohol-related violence and crime in the Christchurch CBD.

The initiative arose out of collaboration between representatives of the Police District Licensing Unit, Christchurch City Council, Hospitality Association, and the Canterbury District Health Board division Community and Public Health.

The aims of the policy were to:
• reduce the incidence of violence where the perpetrator and/or victim are affected by alcohol
• improve local-level responses to alcohol-related violence
• increase the safety of environments where alcohol consumption occurs
• reduce crime and violence in the CBD by 10 per cent

The key component of the accord was planned to be a 3am one-way door operating in licensed premises on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, meaning patrons couldn’t enter bars after that time.
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April 23 2008 | violence and alcohol | No Comments »