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New booze laws make the city and Kings Cross a safer place as assault incidents fall by half in wake of lockout laws
VIOLENT assaults in Kings Cross and the CBD have fallen by half since the government’s lockout laws were introduced last month.
Police and ambulance officers have also reported huge corresponding drops in the number of bloody attacks in the party precincts.
The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has inspected 276 venues in a 33-day period, with one in six bars and clubs slapped with breach notices.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said the number of assaults had halved since the O’Farrell government enforced its lockout legislation on February 24 while a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman cited an almost 30 per cent drop in the assault numbers treated by ambulance officers compared to the same period last year.
“Reported assaults have dropped significantly — almost by half,” Mr Murdoch said. “We are now into the fifth weekend of the new regulations and acts of violence and drunkenness are down.”
Under the new laws, all venues in Kings Cross, the CBD and the Rocks must enforce a 1.30am lockout and stop serving drinks after 3am, and bottle shops must close at 10pm.
The lockout was a key part of The Daily Telegraph’s campaign to curb violence in Kings Cross and on George St.
Despite critics’ comments that it would simply move problems with alcohol and violence elsewhere, Mr Murdoch said police had not seen any trend towards people flooding into Surry Hills and Pyrmont when the city and Kings Cross pubs and clubs closed. There has been no statistical increase in assaults in other parts of Sydney.
“We kept a very close eye on that and there have been no spikes in incidents in those (surrounding) areas. It has been very pleasing,” he said.
A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said the number of assaults from February 24 to March 27 compared to the same period last year was a reduction to 71.5 per cent of the previous amount.
“The response tally for the 2014 period was 98, as compared to 137 for the same period last year,” she said.
Police minister Mike Gallacher said the hardline approach was working.
“The NSW government is delivering on the community’s expectation to crack down on alcohol-related violence. Early indications from police are that the new measures are showing signs of success,” he said.
OLGR executive director Paul Newson said it was too early to make an “informed judgment” on the effectiveness of the new laws after only a month.
Mr Newson said that there had been general issues with venues failing to meet RSA requirements, and that six businesses had been slapped with “strike” offences under the three strikes scheme.
“Licensees have been warned that they will face regulatory action if they fail to comply with the new conditions,” he said. “As well as loss of public reputation, penalties for a breach of the new conditions include potential fines of up to $11,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months as well as strikes under the government’s three strikes disciplinary scheme.”
The OLGR has found no serious breaches of the 3am service bans and only a single breach of the 1.30am lockout when one venue allowed two patrons re-entry to collect personal belongings.
On Friday night, Kings Cross bar Dejavu was ordered to close for 72 hours after two breaches of the liquor laws.
It can re-open tonight from 7pm after OLGR alleged that the nightclub served alcohol to a minor and a heavily intoxicated woman. CCTV cameras at the club were also not in operation.
The state government yesterday announced that police officers would enforce new $500 fines for offensive language and $1100 for drunk and disorderly behaviour after being told to move on.
Earlier this month, St Vincent’s Hospital emergency services director Gordian Fulde said there were fewer people admitted from alcohol-fuelled violence and a significant reduction in the number of coward punch victims.
While violence statistics have plummeted, nightclub and bar industry groups have reported a downturn in trade by up to 30 per cent since the lockouts came into effect.
TAMER, QUIETER STREETS AS LOCKOUT LAWS AND GREATER POLICE PRESENCE CURBS THE REVELLERS Naomi White
IT’S been a month since the state government imposed the 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks — and the once-angry mile and Kings Cross have become much tamer.
The Daily Telegraph spent Saturday night in a much quieter Kings Cross — that is, until the 3am spill, when revellers flowed on to the streets once the booze was turned off.
The subdued atmosphere was also reinforced by the heavy presence of police and sniffer dogs most of the night, with officers occasionally having to step in to handle a few minor fights.
Queues into clubs stayed short until 1am, when groups of friends could be heard arguing over where to spend the rest of their night, often rushing to get in the line before the 1.30am cut-off.
As the lockout approached, there was no queue at Sydney’s biggest club, the Ivy, from 1.15am to 1.30am. However, there was still one reveller who argued with security on the issue, arguing his phone said it was 1.29am instead of 1.30am.
But most of the revellers caught in the lockout appeared to accept their fate peacefully, and by 2am they had begun heading home, searching for a taxi or a snack.
Friends Jessica Carroll, 21, Amy Bodeker, 22 and Carina Innes, 20, from Campbelltown said this was the first night they had been out since the laws had been put in place.
“It’s not the same at all,” Ms Innes said, “no one wants to come out any more because of the laws — 1.30am is ridiculous, what if you want to go somewhere else after that? You don’t want to be stuck at a place for four hours.”
The group said they had booked a hotel in the city for the night, with taxis too expensive and the nightride bus taking an hour-and-a-half to reach Campbelltown.
Friends Renee Rickard, 19, and Eliza Hearn, 18, left before the 3am last drinks to beat the rush for cabs, but said they couldn’t find one to take them to Castle Hill.
“We haven’t been here much since the lockouts, because there’s no point, because we know we’re going to be fighting for cabs all night and we know there’s just going to be drama,” Ms Rickard said.
At 3.30am, hundreds of people left the Ivy at once, all milling on the street waiting for a taxi.
BAR KING UNCORKS SURPRISE IN CBD Grant Jones
NIGHTCLUB baron Justin Hemmes has revealed the purchase of a new CBD venue in King St, scotching rumours he is avoiding the city because of the crackdown on drinking and violence.
Hemmes’s Merivale group bought the Noble Canteen, previously Trumps Tavern, six weeks ago and intends to turn it into a pop-up bar for six months before deciding on its future.
“I love the city, it’s a wonderful part of Sydney. It trades five, six days a weeks, which is great. It’s an exciting place to be,” Hemmes said from the South Island of New Zealand, where he is on a surfing holiday. “In the last 15 years, it’s come from pretty much a barren wasteland in terms of food and beverage options to a hub of dining and drinking. The more exciting ventures we have in the city the more it keeps it alive.”
Hemmes intends the pop-up at 50 King St, dubbed A Work in Progress, to serve Thai street food, plus fresh fruit and juice-based cocktails and host an art gallery.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...ory-fni0cx12-1226869289625?from=trendinglinks
VIOLENT assaults in Kings Cross and the CBD have fallen by half since the government’s lockout laws were introduced last month.
Police and ambulance officers have also reported huge corresponding drops in the number of bloody attacks in the party precincts.
The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has inspected 276 venues in a 33-day period, with one in six bars and clubs slapped with breach notices.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said the number of assaults had halved since the O’Farrell government enforced its lockout legislation on February 24 while a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman cited an almost 30 per cent drop in the assault numbers treated by ambulance officers compared to the same period last year.
“Reported assaults have dropped significantly — almost by half,” Mr Murdoch said. “We are now into the fifth weekend of the new regulations and acts of violence and drunkenness are down.”
Under the new laws, all venues in Kings Cross, the CBD and the Rocks must enforce a 1.30am lockout and stop serving drinks after 3am, and bottle shops must close at 10pm.
The lockout was a key part of The Daily Telegraph’s campaign to curb violence in Kings Cross and on George St.
Despite critics’ comments that it would simply move problems with alcohol and violence elsewhere, Mr Murdoch said police had not seen any trend towards people flooding into Surry Hills and Pyrmont when the city and Kings Cross pubs and clubs closed. There has been no statistical increase in assaults in other parts of Sydney.
“We kept a very close eye on that and there have been no spikes in incidents in those (surrounding) areas. It has been very pleasing,” he said.
A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said the number of assaults from February 24 to March 27 compared to the same period last year was a reduction to 71.5 per cent of the previous amount.
“The response tally for the 2014 period was 98, as compared to 137 for the same period last year,” she said.
Police minister Mike Gallacher said the hardline approach was working.
“The NSW government is delivering on the community’s expectation to crack down on alcohol-related violence. Early indications from police are that the new measures are showing signs of success,” he said.
OLGR executive director Paul Newson said it was too early to make an “informed judgment” on the effectiveness of the new laws after only a month.
Mr Newson said that there had been general issues with venues failing to meet RSA requirements, and that six businesses had been slapped with “strike” offences under the three strikes scheme.
“Licensees have been warned that they will face regulatory action if they fail to comply with the new conditions,” he said. “As well as loss of public reputation, penalties for a breach of the new conditions include potential fines of up to $11,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months as well as strikes under the government’s three strikes disciplinary scheme.”
The OLGR has found no serious breaches of the 3am service bans and only a single breach of the 1.30am lockout when one venue allowed two patrons re-entry to collect personal belongings.
On Friday night, Kings Cross bar Dejavu was ordered to close for 72 hours after two breaches of the liquor laws.
It can re-open tonight from 7pm after OLGR alleged that the nightclub served alcohol to a minor and a heavily intoxicated woman. CCTV cameras at the club were also not in operation.
The state government yesterday announced that police officers would enforce new $500 fines for offensive language and $1100 for drunk and disorderly behaviour after being told to move on.
Earlier this month, St Vincent’s Hospital emergency services director Gordian Fulde said there were fewer people admitted from alcohol-fuelled violence and a significant reduction in the number of coward punch victims.
While violence statistics have plummeted, nightclub and bar industry groups have reported a downturn in trade by up to 30 per cent since the lockouts came into effect.
TAMER, QUIETER STREETS AS LOCKOUT LAWS AND GREATER POLICE PRESENCE CURBS THE REVELLERS Naomi White
IT’S been a month since the state government imposed the 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks — and the once-angry mile and Kings Cross have become much tamer.
The Daily Telegraph spent Saturday night in a much quieter Kings Cross — that is, until the 3am spill, when revellers flowed on to the streets once the booze was turned off.
The subdued atmosphere was also reinforced by the heavy presence of police and sniffer dogs most of the night, with officers occasionally having to step in to handle a few minor fights.
Queues into clubs stayed short until 1am, when groups of friends could be heard arguing over where to spend the rest of their night, often rushing to get in the line before the 1.30am cut-off.
As the lockout approached, there was no queue at Sydney’s biggest club, the Ivy, from 1.15am to 1.30am. However, there was still one reveller who argued with security on the issue, arguing his phone said it was 1.29am instead of 1.30am.
But most of the revellers caught in the lockout appeared to accept their fate peacefully, and by 2am they had begun heading home, searching for a taxi or a snack.
Friends Jessica Carroll, 21, Amy Bodeker, 22 and Carina Innes, 20, from Campbelltown said this was the first night they had been out since the laws had been put in place.
“It’s not the same at all,” Ms Innes said, “no one wants to come out any more because of the laws — 1.30am is ridiculous, what if you want to go somewhere else after that? You don’t want to be stuck at a place for four hours.”
The group said they had booked a hotel in the city for the night, with taxis too expensive and the nightride bus taking an hour-and-a-half to reach Campbelltown.
Friends Renee Rickard, 19, and Eliza Hearn, 18, left before the 3am last drinks to beat the rush for cabs, but said they couldn’t find one to take them to Castle Hill.
“We haven’t been here much since the lockouts, because there’s no point, because we know we’re going to be fighting for cabs all night and we know there’s just going to be drama,” Ms Rickard said.
At 3.30am, hundreds of people left the Ivy at once, all milling on the street waiting for a taxi.
BAR KING UNCORKS SURPRISE IN CBD Grant Jones
NIGHTCLUB baron Justin Hemmes has revealed the purchase of a new CBD venue in King St, scotching rumours he is avoiding the city because of the crackdown on drinking and violence.
Hemmes’s Merivale group bought the Noble Canteen, previously Trumps Tavern, six weeks ago and intends to turn it into a pop-up bar for six months before deciding on its future.
“I love the city, it’s a wonderful part of Sydney. It trades five, six days a weeks, which is great. It’s an exciting place to be,” Hemmes said from the South Island of New Zealand, where he is on a surfing holiday. “In the last 15 years, it’s come from pretty much a barren wasteland in terms of food and beverage options to a hub of dining and drinking. The more exciting ventures we have in the city the more it keeps it alive.”
Hemmes intends the pop-up at 50 King St, dubbed A Work in Progress, to serve Thai street food, plus fresh fruit and juice-based cocktails and host an art gallery.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...ory-fni0cx12-1226869289625?from=trendinglinks
