Australia, New Zealand targeting hooligans

SYDNEY, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Police commissioners in Australia and New Zealand said police forces will begin targeting drunken hooligans as part of Operation Unite.

The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph said in its Thursday edition the police operation scheduled for Dec. 11-12 is focused on fighting binge drinking and drunken violence in the two countries.

The operation will involve police forces riding trains to protect commuters from potential drunken hooligans and efforts against bars offering half-price drinks during happy hours.

Meanwhile, highway patrol forces will target drunken drivers and police will attempt to keep the streets safe through patrols and the use of closed-circuit TV cameras.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione spoke out against drunken behavior, stating that alcohol abuse was involved in 70 percent of the 18,935 police actions that took place between June 2007 and June 2009.

"Individuals need to put some meaning into the words 'personal responsibility' and they need to turn good intentions into action in their own lives," Scipione said.