War of words over CBD jaywalkers

A stoush has erupted between police, civil libertarians, the country’s peak pedestrian safety body and the City of Sydney Council over a police operation targeting jaywalkers in the CBD.

The disagreement comes after ‘Operation Franklin 2’ last Wednesday saw police issue 38 people with $66 fines for disobeying traffic/pedestrian lights in the city centre. The operation, conducted with the assistance of the Pedestrian Council of Australia and the City of Sydney, saw a further 32 pedestrians cautioned for similar offences.

86 people were given pedestrian and bicycle safety brochures by a City of Sydney road safety officer.

Superintendent Stuart Smith from the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol, said the operation was designed to improve motorist and pedestrian safety.

“With a number of recent pedestrian fatalities across the state, these operations become necessary in order to prevent further incidents occurring,” he said. “Sadly we are … seeing a number of pedestrians showing total disregard to their own safety without any consideration to their surroundings.”

However, the NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) said it was nothing more than harassment of city workers and residents.

“It’s harassment of people who, at best, may have committed a very minor offence and at worst, haven’t done anything wrong at all,” said NSWCCL President, Cameron Murphy.

Mr Murphy said the operation was a lamentable example of zero tolerance policing.

“It’s an attempt to impose New York-style zero tolerance policing on Sydney,” he said. “Zero tolerance policing is a failed concept based on the ridiculous premise that if you prosecute people for the most minor offences, it stops serious crime – because as we all know, people who start out as jaywalkers end up being armed robbers.

“We are always hearing about the NSW Police Force being under-resourced, so it’s frankly ridiculous for them to be targeting innocent people for such petty misdemeanours.”

Harold Scruby, Chairman of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, responded angrily.

“These civil libertarians need to get their heads read,” he said. “It’s about safety and saving lives.

“Crossing the road against the lights is illegal – and with good reason. You could end up dead in the gutter.”

The City of Sydney backed Mr Scruby’s comments.

“The safety of the public is paramount,” said a City of Sydney spokesperson. “The City experiences high pedestrian numbers on a daily basis. Unfortunately many people do not take appropriate care – crossing the road when it is not safe to do so.

“Pedestrians often step out from between parked vehicles, cross within 20 metres of a pedestrian crossing … and cross when cars have the right of way.”