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Posted
4 hours ago, facthunter said:

Where there's a WILL there's a way. Nev

Where there's a Will there's a bunch of squabbling relatives.

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Posted

The original Intoxicated Persons Act 1979 in NSW has been repealed. Police powers to detain and care for intoxicated people in public places are now governed by Section 206 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (LEPRA). Under this law, officers can detain a drunk person in public if they are disorderly, at risk of injury or damage, or need physical protection.

 

However, there is no offence. The detention is meant to be a means of protecting the intoxicated person. Such a person could be taken to a police station and held until sober then released. They could be taken to a hospital, but hospitals never had the staff or facilities to care for drunks. In a small town, or if the person lived near, they could be taken home and handed into the care of a responsible adult.

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Posted
1 hour ago, facthunter said:

Chances are that It varies from state to state. Nev

Anything is possible, which leads to a probability. However, that law was saw a change in the idea that a person who simply over indulged was to be punished to a concren for that person's immediate welfare. Don't forget that around that time law enforement agencies coming under scrutiny relating to deaths in custody. Holding intoxicated person, who may actually be suffering from severe alcoholic poisoning which could result in death, was not a good situation for law enforcement. Besides, what was the penalty for a charge of public drunkeness? A pittance and dealing with drunks took up expensive court time.

 

I would imagine that all States came to a similar conclusion as NSW and amended their laws.

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