HALF an hour can seem like a long time or a short time, depending on your circumstances.
From the point of view of Newcastle grog-crime campaigner Tony Brown, giving city pubs an extra 30 minutes of trading time is an unwarranted extension that undermines the beneficial effects of the trading hour restrictions imposed earlier this year.
The pubs say the concession is a small one, but have nevertheless expressed themselves content with their compromise and are keen to put their long-running dispute with the city's police over alcohol-related crime behind them.
As a result of the out-of-court settlement, agreed just before an appeal by publicans was due to be heard in Belmont Court, Newcastle's patron lockout will move from 1am to 1.30am, early night traders will close at 3am and late night traders will close at 3.30am.
The Northern Region police commander, Assistant Commissioner Lee Shearer, acknowledged that the curfews had cut crime in the city by 36 per cent between 1am and 6am, and by 43 per cent between 3am and 6am.
She also acknowledged that curfews had been hard on hoteliers, who have lost money as a result of the restrictions on trading hours, but said the notorious pre-curfew standard of behaviour on Newcastle streets had been unacceptable.
For its part, the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has put the hoteliers on notice that their modest reprieve will only survive if the concession is not seen to produce an increase in alcohol-related crime. If the crime trend moves upward, the office has warned, the bonus half-hour will be speedily withdrawn.
Mr Brown's disappointment is understandable. His outspoken campaign was instrumental in bringing about the curfews that have made Newcastle an example in the eyes of many other communities frustrated about alcohol abuse. Mr Brown argues that if the curfew cuts crime it should be extended rather than reduced.
But the hotels have agreed to a range of modifications to their trading and a half-hour concession may be a small price to pay for an end to the legal proceedings, especially when the hotels are publicly on notice that if they can't control their patrons they will be penalised again.
Fight fire with fire
FIREBUGS appear to be thriving in the Hunter, with an estimated 19 criminal fire-related incidents recorded each week. It wouldn't be surprising if much of this effort was due to a relative handful of individuals, and nor would many people be amazed if most of the perpetrators were youths or young men. For some reason the community seems to be surprisingly tolerant of arson. That might be because youthful firebugs are hard work to charge, harder work to convict and because of a perception that they are unlikely to receive serious punishment. The number of incidents and the growing damage bill from arson in the region suggests it is time for both law enforcers and the community to reconsider their attitude to a problem that is rapidly becoming intolerable.
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