Did the ‘lockout law’ reforms increase assaults at The Star casino, Pyrmont?

Abstract

Aim: To examine trends in non-domestic assault in Pyrmont and The Star casino since the February 2014 reforms contained in the Liquor Amendment Act 2014 (popularly known as the ‘lockout laws’) were implemented in central Sydney. Method: Time series analysis, police narrative analysis. Results: The number of non-domestic assaults recorded at The Star casino increased following the introduction of the ‘lockout and last drinks laws’. In absolute terms, the increase was fairly small; slightly less than two additional assaults per month. In 2015, 49 per cent of assaults in the suburb of Pyrmont occurred in The Star casino premises. In the majority (71%) of 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 incidents the assault occurred while the offender was being evicted from the casino or after he or she had been evicted. Conclusion: The February 2014 reforms may have increased the number of assaults in Pyrmont, particularly at The Star casino. The increase, however, is much smaller than the decreases in assault recorded in the Kings Cross and Sydney CBD entertainment precincts following the reforms.

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