SUNSHINE residents are infuriated at drunks turning their town into an “open-air pub” as they continue to drink in public, despite the council introducing laws more than five years ago to stop it.

During the warmer weather police have been called on a daily basis to remove drunks from Sunshine’s streets as residents become less tolerant of them.

Residents have claimed that drunks and junkies were turning Sunshine into an open-air pub and were frightening passers-by. Sunshine resident Gary Collins said they hung outside bottle shops and jeered at people walking past, making sexual comments to women and arguing with people.

“It’s disgusting,” he said.

The Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association member said he received constant complaints from people frustrated by a lack of action over the problem.

“We don’t understand why this is continuing to happen when there are laws against it,” Mr Collins said.

“Why isn’t someone doing something about it?”

Another resident, Gerard Tulip, said he often had to escort his wife and employees to and from Sunshine train station, amid fears they could be harassed or even assaulted by drunks.

“I shouldn’t have to do that,” Mr Tulip said.

“It’s getting beyond a joke when people can’t even walk down the street in broad daylight any more.”

Star witnessed more than six people drinking alcohol on Hampshire Rd at 11am last Wednesday, openly flouting council by-laws which forbid street drinking in public.

Sunshine Police Senior Sergeant Mick Shaunessy said police were aware of a number of hotspots around the suburb where drunks regularly congregated, including Hampshire Rd, City Place, Maxwell St and Furlong Rd.

He said police were called on a daily basis to remove drunks during the warmer months.

“We know it’s a problem and it’s something we’re trying to address,” Sen Sgt Shaunessy said.

“You normally see them from five o’clock onwards, especially on a hot day but some of them start drinking as early as 10 or 11 o’clock in the morning.

“When we see them we utilise the council’s local laws and get them to move on.”

Brimbank City Council acting general manager of city development Leigh Harrison said public drinking was no more of a problem than in other areas of Melbourne.

But Mr Harrison admitted the council had handed out more than 100 fines for public drinking in the past year.

“That proves that it is a problem,” Mr Collins said.

“And that only includes the people they catch.

“What about all the people that get away because the police aren’t around?”