Assaults down to 2002 levels

Assaults in licensed premises have dropped to an eight-year low according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

Statewide statistics reveal there were 5928 assaults in the past 12-month period to September, compared with over 6500 last year and over 7000 in 2008.

But there has been no reduction in overall assault levels for the City of Sydney, with over 4000 assaults recorded this year.

City of Sydney’s Late Night Economy Manager, Suzie Matthews, said despite a reduction of assaults in licensed premises, fights taking place outside of venues still remain steady.

“Overall our non-domestic violence assaults, primarily assaults that are more likely to occur in public places, are still tracking stable,” she said.

“For us, the majority of assaults occur in a public place; so after people have left the venue is where fights happen.”

Australian Hotels Association NSW CEO, Sally Fielke, said the positive figures illustrate pro-active action by the industry is working.

“It’s pleasing to see assaults in licensed premises have now fallen to the lowest levels in eight years,” she said in a statement.

“This is particularly heartening at a time the Police Union is constantly calling for earlier closing hours.”

Ms Matthews said improvements in public transport would help reduce anti-social behaviour in entertainment precincts such as Kings Cross as it would help move on the sheer volume of people, rather than patrons lingering outside venues.

“We’d love the State Government to make transport much more functional, much more visible, and more of it late at night,” she said.

“We don’t necessarily have the resources available to us to get those people home safely in the way we would like.”

According to recent independent research done by the City of Sydney, the highest peak of serious anti-social behaviour observed was 80 incidents in one location in Kings Cross between one and two am on a Friday evening.

Ms Matthews said recent amendments to the Development Control Plan will ensure venues that are poorly managed and unsafe will not have the privilege of extended trading hours.

According to the City of Sydney, one in five assaults happen within a licensed venue.

by Sophie Cousins