By Andy Young
Publicans, police and the local community in the Griffith area of New South Wales have worked to together to bring about a significant reduction in assault rates, according to the Australian Hotels Associations NSW’s director of liquor and policing, John Green.
Green visited the region this week to meet with local hoteliers and said that the latest independent statistics from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) showed a 44.3 per cent drop in assault rates since 2008. That number means assault rates at pubs and clubs in the region are at their lowest since records began in the 1990s.
“This figure shows what can be achieved when a community works together to solve its local issues,” Green said.
“Hoteliers have been working hard with police in places like Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera and Darlington Point to ensure the minority of people who do the wrong thing on their premises are targeted. We are seeing the results in the statistics.”
While the BOCSAR statistics reflect the hard work of publicans, police and the community, one other disturbing trend has emerged with incidents of use and possession of amphetamines up by a shocking 611 per cent in the AHA NSW Riverna sub-branch region.
Green met with the region’s publicans to discuss a number of issues including the impact of the NSW Government’s state-wide 10pm closure of bottleshops.
Green added: “Griffith is a well-known wine making area.
“It is ridiculous that tourists and locals alike are not able to grab a bottle of wine or a six-pack to take home after they arrive in the city at night or after they have finished a meal.
“This is an issue that is raised wherever I go in country NSW.”