A police crackdown on sly groggers running alcohol between Kimberley towns has ended in a series of infringement notices and warnings issued to businesses flouting the region's strict liquor controls.
"Operation Bignell" ran for two weeks in February, targeting people and businesses failing to comply with the Liquor Control Act, and those breaching liquor carriage limit laws, which were introduced last year to crack down on sly groggers.
WA Police superintendent Craig Parkin said the operation had been launched once it was clear that alcohol had been leaking into the Kimberley's dry communities.
"Broadly, there was a number of people charged during the operation, liquor seized and destroyed, and also breaches of the liquor control act by licensed premises."
"It's a priority up here because we know the harm liquor causes on communities ... all operations are ongoing."
The police operation ran concurrent to the WA's mandatory vaccination requirements, which required all people who entered bottle shops to provide proof of double vaccination.
Locals say both the police operation and the requirements saw a decrease in the volume of crime rates over the weekend.
Pub considers future
One business that was fined was the Spinifex Hotel in Derby, one of the town's only pubs.
Perth-based owner Emanuel Dillon said he and his staff were working through the issues raised by police.
"Late Friday afternoon, after close of business, I received a phone call from liquor enforcement who had been up in that region for the best part of the week," he said.
"They had focused some attention on the Spinifex Hotel and completed an audit and they raised some minor concerns about some staff's actions.
"I couldn't satisfy myself that I could get to the bottom of that made make sure of that there's no issues until sometime this week, when I can actually travel to Derby and investigate it myself."
Mr Dillon said he had made the decision to close the store until he could investigate, but it had been compounded by ongoing crime issues in the town and region-wide staff shortages.
"We try to come during the wet season and provide a service," he said.
"But it's getting increasingly more and more difficult to do so — staffing in the current climate is difficult, but more importantly, the crime rate is so high.
"I don't believe that the town itself gets enough support from local and state government agencies, and [the police] are undermanned.
"Then on Friday I got that phone call and just thought it's time to take a bit of time, and really reassess the short and medium-term prospects of the Spinifex Hotel in Derby."
