Summary
Aim
To determine whether there has been a decline in assaults after midnight following changes to liquor licensing policy after March 2008.
Method
Time series analysis of reported assaults between January 2004 and December 2010.
Results
The upward trend in assault between midnight and 5:00 a.m. in NSW between 2004 and 2008 reversed following changes to liquor licensing policy after March 2008 and the NSW Liquor Act in October 2008. Assaults on licensed premises have fallen by about one per cent a month since March 2008. The fall is not restricted to licensed premises but was found to affect all location categories other than non-licensed business/commercial premises.
Conclusion
The imposition of new restrictions on licensed premises may have assisted in reducing the assault rate in NSW.