Hutt St traders, residents dispute police call-out figures

Police have been called out to the southern Hutt St precinct more than 1600 times in just over two years, traders and residents say — but police say the figures aren’t that simple.

CCTV screen grabs from a fight on Hutt Street. Pics Supplied

Police have been called out to the southern Hutt St precinct more than 1600 times in just over two years, traders and residents say, as they argue against the police’s declaration there has been no increase in criminal behaviour in the CBD corner.

Figures released to the Hutt St Traders and Residents Association under Freedom of Information, seen by The Advertiser, show that there were 1638 call outs to the Hutt St southern precinct from November 2016 to January. They spike during 7am to 1pm, with Wednesday and Thursday experiencing the most call outs.

Association spokesman Wayne Copely said with only 20 per cent of incidents resulting in a conviction, the true number would be much higher because people would be loath to call the police for incidents.

He said this showed there was a crime and public safety problem on the city strip. “There is crime and there is this unconvicted crime,” Mr Copely said.

Mr Copely said the number of call-outs to the area north of Halifax St were significantly less in the data.

An SA police spokesman said the area referred to in the FOI also covered Carrington St, Halifax St, a number of specific hotels, businesses and all surrounding areas in the vicinity.

“These calls are inclusive of all taskings, which can range from missing people, false alarms on businesses, traffic matters — and of course the more serious issues,” he said.

“Over that nominated period of time there is less than two taskings a day in that area.

“As we have stated previously, SAPOL has done an extensive amount of work policing in that southern end of the CBD for what factually equates to less than 2 per cent of all reported crime in the CBD.”

Last month Adelaide City councillor Phil Martin said claims of increased crime was a “co-ordinated campaign”.

He told a parliamentary inquiry into poverty that he believed the issue of anti-social and violent behaviour in the area was a “co-ordinated campaign” waged to get the Hutt Street Centre to move from its location.

Mr Copely said they were “uneducated” claims.