Adelaide City Council send guards to Hutt St to protect traders from violence in the street

ADELAIDE City Council has sent security guards to Hutt St as traders deal with threats against their safety, leaving them at breaking point.

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ADELAIDE City Council has sent security guards to Hutt St as traders deal with threats against their safety, leaving them at breaking point.

After the owners of Bici Espresso said they would leave the area because of the ongoing issues, the council yesterday deployed a security guard to ensure the protection of the business, its staff and customers.

It came after a threat was made against the business, which is being investigated by South Australia Police.

It is understood another Hutt St business also said they had also received threats for speaking out about the increasing violent behaviour at the southern end of the street.

It came as The Advertiser received two videos (combined above) showing a series of brawls on the strip.

When the The Advertiser visited Hutt St yesterday afternoon a security guard was stationed at Bici.

A security guard stationed outside of Bici Espresso. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

An Adelaide council spokeswoman said the security guard would remain on site throughout the day in response to the threat.

Five CCTV cameras were being installed and a working party established to deal with the wider issues, she said.

“In response to a safety threat toward the owners of Bici cafe in Hutt St, the City of Adelaide will deploy security guards to help protect the premises and their staff and customers,” she said.

“SAPOL has investigated the threat. Safety of the city’s business owners and their customers is paramount.”

Traders told The Advertiser the decision of Bici to leave the area was “the straw that broke the camels back”.

While generally quarantined from the trouble at the southern end of the street, Hutt St Photos’ owner Alan Logue said he had customers too scared to leave his shop while people fought outside.

Alan Logue from Hutt Street Photos, who has noticed an increase in violent activity in the area. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“We shouldn’t have gotten to this point,” he said.

“But now that Bici has decided to leave and I don’t blame them given the threat and abuse they have copped, I think it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back. This is an issue that I think people have put in the too-hard basket.”

Superintendent Craig Wall, of the Eastern Adelaide Local Service Area said one of the men who had been arrested and charged for his actions at Bici cafe earlier this month had breached bail and been arrested again for returning to the cafe.

“Since this release (of the three men) occurred, one accused has been arrested for breaching a condition of his bail which required him to stay away from the business,” he said.