An alcohol ban in the main streets and central business area of Balclutha has reduced the amount of disorderly behaviour, police say.
The liquor ban was introduced by the Clutha District Council in 2014 and was extended last year to include Elizabeth, John and George Sts.
Sergeant Robin Hutton, of Balclutha, said the ban had resulted in a 31% to 35% reduction in the number of disorderly behaviour and alcohol-related incidents in the central business district.
''From a police perspective, liquor bans are an excellent way to curb antisocial behaviour.''
While no statistics were available since the ban area was expanded, Sgt Hutton was confident the number of incidents had decreased further.
''We have found moving through 2017 that [reduction] has continued.''
There were still a high number of incidents near public bars, but that was expected, given the nature of the establishments selling alcohol.
Sgt Hutton did not believe the alcohol ban had shifted the problem elsewhere or away from the main streets.
He did not believe Balclutha, as a whole, had a problem with drinking. Dealing with alcohol-fuelled incidents was ''the nature of our work'', he said.
Another ''brilliant'' initiative was the introduction of CCTV cameras in main areas of Balclutha, he said.
''We are able to go back and review incidents in real time.''
It had helped identify people in vehicles or who were around at the time and was ''a great tool''.
They were also effective from a prevention point of view as people were aware they were being watched.
In an interview last week, former sergeant Martin Bull said the reduction in incidents was a positive result of the community working together.
