These signs speak towards the behaviour of those persons within the premises and any behaviour contrary to those signs may result in a Banning Notice from that establishment or all licensed premises under the Bangerang Liquor Accord.
This raises the question, what is a Banning Notice and how can it be used against me?
Banning Notices have long been used by the large companies such as Coles, Woolworths and IGA to prevent serial shop lifters or offensive persons entering their premises. In fact, Woolworths Corowa and Waldrons Supa IGA by the River both use Banning Notice to good effect.
What it means though is if a business formally issues a person with a banning notice, which is normally served by police, then any subsequent entering of the business premises that the person is subject to a banning notice will result in prosecution for trespass by way of arrest and issuing with a court attendance notice.
Banning notices can be for a couple of months, years or lifetime bans depending on the seriousness of the initial offence, the remorse shown by the offender or the message that a business owner wants to convey.
In the case of the Bangerang Liquor Accord, the committee is required to sit and discuss the situation and what punishment best suits the crime. This method is very similar to how Club Corowa determines the exclusion of their patrons.
Corowa Sergeant Steve Marshall said: “Club Corowa have a very strong code of conduct, and the Bangerang Liquor Accord agreed on the key behaviours and adapted theirs to mirror that of Club Corowa.”
In recent weeks, due to bullying and offensive behaviour at the Amaranth Food Bowl, a similar code of conduct has been insisted as well with patrons subject to banning orders as well.
“These volunteers working for Amaranth Foundation, helping to put food on their clients’ tables deserve respect and do not offer their time to be spoken to rudely and stood over,” Sgt Marshall said.
Seeking assistance regarding damage
Corowa Police are requesting assistance from residents in the visiting of Wanstead Street and Guy Street after a couple of weekends of targeted property damage by youths late in the night congregating and then attacking premises with rocks and eggs.
Specifically, police are appealing to anyone around those areas who have CCTV footage on August 25 August and October 4, when a number of youths attacked a premises.
Police understand the frustration with Corowa residents not getting an immediate response from police due to the large area that Corowa, Howlong and Mulwala Police cover but Corowa Police try to stay in town and will try their best to respond promptly.
“Please don’t assume we are not here, ring our number or 000 and report your concern particularly if you have people loitering near your house clearly up to no good. If you can’t get through on our number, ring Albury (02) 60239299,” Sergeant Marshall said.
Drag racing or burnout warning
Last week police briefly mentioned the known existence of an Instagram site promoting the filming and uploading of vehicles doing burnouts and driving dangerously in Corowa and Rutherglen.
On both sides of the border, police have remarkable powers to deal with anyone committing these offences.
If you commit a drag racing or burnout offence, the maximum court-imposed fine is $3300 for a first offence.
For a second or subsequent offence, you could be fined $3300 and face nine months imprisonment. A 12-month disqualification period will apply too, if you're convicted.
For more information, police suggest those who want to engage in this behaviour to Google search the following offence: Road Transport Act 2013 – Sect 116 specifically subsection 2(f) and 2(g) which specifically refer to the promoting or urging persons to participate in burnouts/drag racing as well as filming those activities.
“It goes without saying that if police come across any of these activities, it will be investigated and charges laid as well as the suspension of licences and impounding of vehicles,” Sergeant Marshall said.