Kimberley leaders push for broader Banned Drinkers Register to curb alcohol-fuelled violence

The Banned Drinkers Register is designed to address widespread alcohol abuse in the Kimberley. (ABC Kimberley)

Leaders in the Kimberley have lobbied the West Australian government to urgently broaden the state's Banned Drinkers Register (BDR) so it resembles what is in place in the Northern Territory.

The register is being trialled in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields to curb high rates of drunken violence.

But only 52 people are on the register in the Kimberley, a figure that has raised doubt over the scheme's effectiveness.

The issue was raised at meetings involving representatives from Kimberley shire councils, state bureaucrats and Racing and Gaming Minister Tony Buti who is responsible for the BDR.

Wyndham East Kimberley Shire deputy president Tony Chafer, who is the council's representative on a local liquor accord, said he pressed a strong case for urgent reform of the BDR.

"I think we'll get some action if we keep on the government's case, but if we leave it to the bureaucrats and the government to do it themselves we'll still be talking about it in a year's time."

Looking across the border

Kimberley leaders say hundreds more problem drinkers could go on the BDR if it had a wider scope. (ABC Kimberley: Sam Tomlin)

Mr Chafer said the government should replicate the Northern Territory's BDR, so hundreds more problem drinkers could be added to it.

The register in the NT has a wide range of avenues for referral, including from health and social workers.

More than 3,000 people have been added to the scheme.

The scope for non-voluntary BDR inclusions is narrower in WA, limited to barring notices and prohibition orders, which are enforced after serious instances of violence and anti-social behaviour.

Tony Chafer says WA needs to urgently change its BDR so more problem drinkers can be added to it. (ABC News: Tom Edwards)

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson has previously cast doubt on the effectiveness of the BDR and would prefer to see full-strength alcohol banned from Kimberley bottle shops, an idea widely panned by tourism operators and businesses.

In a statement, Mr Buti said the government was open to reforming the BDR.

"The next phase of the program will be to receive and review feedback from an independent assessment, and to look at various ways of improving the BDR," he said.

"In the meeting I committed to engaging further with local governments on the potential next steps, including looking at additional pathways to put people on the BDR."

The WA government did not provide a timeline for when the assessment would be complete.