Police union ‘genuinely worried’ as public drunkenness decriminalisation nears

The Police Association is warning the failure to have a sobering up centre in Collingwood ready will see police being forced to walk away from helping those who are intoxicated in the street.

Public drunkenness will be decriminalised in Victoria on Melbourne Cup Day, but the Cambridge Street facility is unlikely to be open for weeks due to construction delays.

Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt says he’s “genuinely worried that the government is not as prepared as it should be”.

Press PLAY below to hear what the police union fears may happen

“We’re not saying it’s all going to fall apart on Cup Day, it may not and I hope it doesn’t, but look, it will at some point,” he told Neil Mitchell.