XN000022-1986-03-12 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1986

1S FOR RESPONSE, POLICE WENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE PREMISES AN ALARM WAS SOUNDED. IN FALSE ALARMS AND WHEN PREMISES VERE LOCKED, THE POLICE WAITED UNTIL THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREMISES COULD BE FOUND TO SWITCH OFF THE ALARM.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE SAID, IT COULD TAKE SOME TIME TO FIND THE PERSON, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT, HE SAID.

VICE PREMISES PROPOSED SCHEME BEING RE-EXAMINED

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN RE-EXAMINING A PROPOSED SCHEME ON THE CONTROL OF VICE-ASSOCIATED ESTABLISHEMENTS WITH THE AIM OF PROVIDING A QUICK, SIMPLE AND CHEAP METHOD TO ENABLE PEOPLE YOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TOLD

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JACKIE CHAN, MR THOMAS SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD FOR SOME TIME BEEN STUDYING THE BEST YEANS OF PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO THE REAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE -CTIVITIES OF PROSTITUTES IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

MR THOMAS SAID HE RECOGNISED THAT ORDINARY DECENT RESIDENTS COULD BE SERIOUSLY ANNOYED AND GRAVELY EMBARRASSED BY VICE ACTIVITIES ON THEIR STAIRCASES AND NEAR THEIR HOMES.

+TO MEET THESE CONCERNS, THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE IN JUNE 1984 ENDORSED A PROPOSAL BY A WORKING GROUP ON VICE-ASSOCIATED ESTABLISHMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE TO INTRODUCE A SCHEME ENABLING THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS TO CLOSE DOWN PREMISES WHICH CAUSE A NUISANCE OF THIS KIND FOR, SAY, SIX MONTHS, HE SAID.

MR THOMAS NOTED THAT THE POWER WOULD ONLY BE EXERCISED IF A COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO THE COURT BY A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS OR BY RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES OR OWNERS' CORPORATIONS.

MR THOMAS SAID DISTRICT BOARDS AND DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES WHO HAD BEEN CONSULTED ON THE SCHEME HAD SUPPORTED IT IN PRINCIPLE BUT RAISED A NUMBER OF MATTERS WHICH NEEDED FURTHER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

THE PROBLEMS INCLUDED THE ELUSIVE NATURE OF SOME NUISANCES ASSOCIATED WITH PROSTITUTION THE DIFFICULTIES OF SUBSTANTIATING COMPLAINTS- THE NEED TO STRIKE A FAIR BALANCE BETWEEN THE SUPPRESSION OF A NUISANCE AND THE LOSS THAT MAY FALL UPON THOSE HAVING A LEGAL INTEREST IN THE PREMISES AND THE FACT THAT FEAR OF RETALIATION MAY DETER SOME PEOPLE FROM MAKING USE OF THE LEGISLATION.

THE GOVERNMENT