Police say alcohol-fuelled violence in Western Australia's remote Pilbara region has taken a dive due to a new liquor strategy.
South Hedland Police have been working with takeaway liquor outlets in the mining town to implement the Hedland Liquor Strategy.
Every day liquor outlets receive text messages with an updated list of people and vehicles which are banned from buying alcohol in the town, or who may be trying to buy large quantities of alcohol to sell for profit.
Officer in Charge of South Hedland Police, Jeremy Marklew, said the strategy had so far been successful in curbing crime.
"The point that always makes us feel better is seeing that reduction in harm, seeing people not being injured or arguing or fighting or whatever the case may be," he said.
Senior Sergeant Marklew said through April and May there had been a 20 per cent reduction in family violence and a 40 per cent reduction in volume crime, which includes damage and theft.
St John Ambulance said call outs in that time period were down by 40 per cent.
'Make Port Hedland a safer town'
Port Hedland Liquor Accord Chairman, Brent Rudle, said liquor outlets were working closely with police to identify people who are causing issues in the town.
"Anywhere in the Pilbara you want the town to grow, and the only way you're going to get the town to grow, is to make sure they're safe secure and family-friendly," he said.
Mr Rudle said the Hedland Liquor Strategy was a pre-cursor to the Banned Drinkers' Register which will start in late 2020 in the Pilbara.
"The next step is to support services working with people on the banned drinkers' registry," he said.
"To get funded agencies which deal with the mental health and family, children services to get them involved as well so we can keep this going."
