Did the lockout law reforms increase assaults at The Star casino Pyrmont

Full report - Did the ‘lockout law’ reforms increase assaults at The Star casino, Pyrmont  (PDF, 429.5 KB)

Release date: 10.30am, Wednesday 20 April, 2016

The number of non-domestic assaults recorded by the NSW Police Force at The Star casino increased following the introduction of the ‘lockout and last drinks laws’ but the increase was comparatively small.

This is one of the key findings of new research released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

BOCSAR analysed trends in recorded incidents of non-domestic assault in The Star casino precinct (see purple boxed area on accompanying map) from January 2009 to December 2015.

In absolute terms, the increase in the number of non-domestic assaults in The Star casino precinct was fairly small; slightly less than two additional assaults per month.

BOCSAR also carried out a detailed examination of all non-domestic assaults recorded by police as having occurred in Pyrmont in 2015.

Forty-nine per cent (n=76) of the non-domestic assaults that occurred in Pyrmont occurred in The Star casino precinct. This includes assaults occurring in the casino, at one of the entrances to the casino and at the casino taxi rank.

In the majority (71%) of these incidents the victim of the assault was a patron at the casino but more than one in 10 (15%) were taxi drivers. In 30 per cent of casino incidents the assault occurred while the offender was being evicted from the premises or after he or she had been evicted.

Commenting on the findings, the Director of BOCSAR, Dr Don Weatherburn, said that the increase in assaults at The Star casino (approximately 2 additional assaults per month) is very small, compared with the reduction in assaults found in the Kings Cross and CBD entertainment precincts following the reforms.

In the Kings Cross Entertainment Precinct there were 13 fewer assaults per month in 2014 than in 2013. In the Sydney Entertainment Precinct there were 30 fewer assaults per month in 2014 than in 2013.

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn 8346-1100
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Need more information? Check out the alcohol related violencepage.