6 minute read
THREE STEPS TO HELP REMEDY CRIME AGAINST HOTELS
by Boylen
From the President
DAVID BASHEER
Crime and anti-social behaviour have become an increasingly difficult - and costly - issue for our hoteliers and staff.
The AHA|SA has engaged extensively over several years with SAPOL, CBS, the Department of Human Resources, other retailers and of course the State Government. Furthermore, Anna Moeller sits on the Premier’s Crime task force.
Several areas of the State now have liquor restrictions imposed upon them. Whyalla is the latest region to have restrictions. As a consequence, members are being asked to do a disproportionate amount of the heavy lifting in this area. This includes:
• constraints on opening hours
• restrictions on of the sale of liquor
• significant investment to secure stock against thieves
• and our staff are the target of anger and abuse when refusing a sale to comply with the regulations.
Our members continue to be victims in the fight against crime - but I am not convinced the high level of cooperation provided by pubs is understood, nor is it fully recognised.
These restrictions are often difficult and costly for hotels to manage. And there is undisputed evidence that such measures simply lead to the movement of the problem. They do not solve the problem.
The Adelaide CBD restrictions have led to issues not previously endured by our members in inner city locations.
Today, we are dealing with generations of policy failure on what is undoubtably a difficult societal issue.
As a result, bottle shop theft is widespread and our staff have
Our members are now investing huge sums of money in crime prevention measures, ranging from retrofitting locks on fridges and purchasing glass-fronted spirit cabinets, through to extra security personnel and technology to identify culprits.
Someone pinching the odd six pack is annoying, but the real issue to focus on is the well-known repeat offenders who steal large amounts of alcohol on a very regular basis.
It is a very unpleasant, and sometimes unsafe work environment for our staff and a heavy cost for our owners to shoulder.
Alarmingly, we have also heard examples of well-meaning customers who have physically intervened to prevent these thefts.
Enough is enough.
We offer no criticism to SAPOL, which deploys its resources in the best possible form.
Nevertheless, these repeat offenders can not be allowed to re-enter our stores without repercussions.
Firstly, the time is overdue for this sustained criminal activity to be met with decent jail terms. As I said previously, this is not an isolated person pilfering a sixpack. These are organised groups using intimidation and violence in a repeated and sustained manner.
Secondly, as we are forced to take on more and more measures to ensure the safety of the community at large, it is unreasonable to expect us to do the ‘heavy lifting’ without support.
Should this alarming crime trend continue, it will almost become beholden on government to follow the interstate lead and financially support our members to make their stores more crime proof. (For example, the Northern Territory Government has previously partnered with hotels to help fund a range of measures.)
Thirdly, with regard to anti-social behaviour that we all observe on the streets, there must be a stronger intent to fix the issue.
Part of that solution is police resourcing. The AHA|SA has been at the head of the queue in praising the Government for the significant contribution major events have added to the hospitality economy. Thanks to the excellent resourcing during events like Gather Round, the streets are much calmer.
We need to keep locals safe 52 weeks of the year.
Hotels Supporting Mental Health
Facilitated by a $200,000 grant from the Independent Gaming Corporation, the AHA|SA is delighted to join with Clubs SA to extend its partnership with Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation for a further two years.
I encourage everyone to keep an eye out for the on going courses.
Vice-President Matt Binns and I, along with personnel from Clubs SA, met Breakthrough’s CEO John
Mannion during Covid to see how we could best tackle the mental health strains that period brought to our senior hospitality operators.
The First Aid mental Health courses were extraordinarily well received, and whilst Covid may be in the rear-view mirror, the mental health challenges for our industry remain very real.
We thank the board of IGC for recognising this need and their financial support is most appreciated.
It is important to remember that over 90% of the IGC’s income is derived from fees paid by hotels and clubs.
Outstanding Contribution
In this issue of Hotel SA, we have a story on the Liquor Industry Charity Golf Day.
This year’s event was yet again another remarkable success, highlighting all that is great about our industry and the people in it.
The day also drew the curtain on the remarkable contributions of three industry legends, Robert Gillies, Robbie Timms and Phil Hallett. This retiring trio has served a combined 65 years to make the event such a success and helped raise in excess of $3 million for important children’s charities.
Rob, Robbi and Phil have all held important roles in their professional hospitality life. But to offer their skills in such a generous way for the benefit of the entire community is worthy of the AHA|SA’s immense thanks and acknowledgment.
A great effort guys!
Proud Of Our Team
Ordinarily, financial results are reserved for our Annual Report but I believe the efforts this year are worthy of special attention.
Our 2024 surplus was $734,410. This outstanding result is truly a full team effort - with Anna Moeller leading highly respected staff who work together to great effect.
The bedrock of that result is membership. We achieved a record membership figure in 2018 and have eclipsed that every single year since. Full credit to Scott Vaughan and Katherine Taylor
Having an engaged and satisfied membership reflects favourably on our legal and HR team – Owen Webb, Gary Coppola and Sarah Legoe – while the foundations are set through the policy expertise of Natarsha Stevenson
At a time when businesses are seeking to cut their discretionary spend, Lucy Randall has leveraged her enviable relationships to ensure our corporate partnerships remain strong.
And with Josh Bevan telling members stories and Liz Turley and Adam Moore ensuring our training continues to thrive, the team continues to deliver excellent member services.
Belinda Richard and Anna Caretti ensure back of house services remain strong, whilst in many ways Tom Owens and the Gaming Care team – Benjamin Bruce, Cathy Dean, Jarrod Egan, John Hilton, Damian Hennessy and Milly Lillywhite – are the unsung heroes of our organisation.
Didier Vollerin, who is currently on a 12-month sabbatical, has also been an important contributor and we look forward to his return.
I started with our financial result and I will conclude with a special acknowledgment to our Financial Controller Alisa Wenzel, who along with Treasurer Sam McInnes have brought great financial discipline to our operations.
Thank you to the AHA|SA team, your efforts are truly appreciated.
