By Clyde Mooney
The September quarterly report on NSW crime statistics, released yesterday by BOCSAR, shows a continuing drop in assault rates on licensed premises.
The figures by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) cited as ‘noteworthy trends’ a reduction in assaults in hotels and pubs, down 11.8 per cent, and incidents involving glass, down 17.9 per cent across NSW.
AHA (NSW) CEO, Paul Nicolaou, said the continued trend reflects the fact that assaults were already at their lowest levels in more than a decade.
"In areas like City North (covering much of the Sydney CBD) we have seen incidents of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour dropping by almost 30 per cent in the last year alone," states Nicolaou.
"Hoteliers are working with the police and the community to ensure these figures improve even further.
"We have zero tolerance for violence on our licensed premises and look forward to working with police this weekend during Operation Unite."
The report also highlights some increases in drug-related crime including an alarming 25.1 per cent increase in offences relating to the possession and/or use of amphetamines in the past 24 months.
"We have been saying for some time drugs and alcohol are a potent mix and a huge problem in some sectors of the community. Once again this is revealed in the BOCSAR figures," said Nicolaou.
Operation Unite is an ongoing joint initiative of Police Commissioners across Australia and New Zealand intended to challenge alcohol misuse, crime, violence and anti-social behaviour.