WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson doubles down on calls for Kimberley full-strength takeaway alcohol ban

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson has doubled down on calls for all full-strength beer to be banned for takeaway sale in the Kimberley after a brawl involving at least a hundred people caused havoc in Derby yesterday. Derby police introduced temporary alcohol restrictions yesterday after two violent altercations that involved at least 100 people armed with weapons broke out outside the local Woolworths. Golf clubs, bats and rocks were used as weapons and a white Ute was seen driving erratically around the area. Derby Police were deployed to disperse the crowd. It is confirmed that the same group was involved in another fight earlier that day which saw one person seriously injured and flown to Broome for treatment. Derby police announced via Twitter yesterday that as a result of the alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour, liquor restrictions had been put in place. Each resident is currently restricted to the purchase of one mid-strength beer or one bottle of wine until further notice. The incidents prompted Mr Dawson to again stress his desire to see full-strength take-away alcohol sales banned in the region. Speaking with 6PR on Wednesday morning, police commissioner Chris Dawson said he backs the application, which he said was in response to “significant social issues”. “We know that there is disproportionate harm across northern Australia, including the Pilbara and the Kimberley,” Mr Dawson said. “This (the ban) has been recommended be senior Aboriginal people of the Fitzroy Valley over many years. “I’m doing this on the basis of evidence, we’re trying to stop harm in the community.” Mr Dawson said the actions of the Derby police came as part of the additional resources provided through operation regional shield. “The Derby Police Station have implemented liquor restrictions, as they can under the act, because of the increased violence in the community.”