A PROMINENT Mount Gambier hotelier says there has been a significant upswing in the number of youths “roaming” inner city streets late at night, which was fuelling violent incidents.
Hotel group owner Guy Matthews – who operates the Mount Gambier, Park and South Eastern hotels – said yesterday venues could not be blamed for the recent spate of violence spilling onto the streets.
“We are very concerned about what has been happening around Mount Gambier late at night – we have been shocked by the recent incidents,” Mr Matthews told The Border Watch yesterday.
The veteran publican said he believed illicit drugs and alcohol being consumed by “groups” of under-aged youths were driving the upward swing in violence and anti-social behaviour.
His comments follow police boosting their presence in the central business district over the weekend, including outside late night venues following a string of violent incidents.
These included the brutal bashing murder of Bordertown man Rex Court on Commercial Street East and a violent a brawl near Gray Street.
In the wake of these incidents, Mount Gambier Hotel has beefed-up security by directing security personnel to walk staff to carparks and undertake greater surveillance of surrounding streets.
It is understood police carried out multiple walk-through exercises at hotels across the weekend.
Mr Matthews – who is the SA Hotels Association South East representative – “applauded” the police for their increased presence last weekend.
He said the Mount Gambier Hotel had a “very strong” security presence at night and was vigilant regarding the behaviour of clientele.
“We are very strict on whom we let in,” Mr Matthews said.
“But we do notice the number of young under age people wandering the streets at night has increased.”
The veteran publican said hotels were responsible for the security within their own venues and could not control or be blamed for behaviour on nearby streets.
“We only have control over people who come into our venues – if we feel they are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, then we don’t let them in,” he said.
The venue operator revealed the Mount Gambier Hotel had up to five highly trained security personnel on site who were trained to stop drug or alcohol-fuelled patrons from entering the premises.
“That is our policy – we are very strict,” Mr Matthews said.
The venue operator also stood by the city’s current liquor licensing regulations.
“Hotel operators have regular meetings over the code of conduct with police and council,” he said.
“The liquor licensing controls are already very tough.”
He said venue operators faced hefty fines if they breached the rules given plain clothes inspectors from liquor licensing regularly visited hotels.
“The Mount Gambier Hotel closes at 3am and I think that is a sensible time to close, we see very little trouble at the venue,” Mr Matthews said.
“Sometimes our staff do ask people to leave our venues, but we do it in a respectful manner.”
He said his hotels provided a social outlet and entertainment for the public.
“We are not here to push people to intoxication,” Mr Matthews said.
