Attorney-General Kyam Maher extends Declared Public Precinct until April 2024 under continued crackdown on CBD crime

Laws giving police special powers have been extended by another six months in the latest bit to combat CBD crime and anti-social behaviour.

Laws granting police special powers to crack down on CBD crime have been extended for another six months in a bid to combat ongoing anti-social behaviour in the city.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher on Monday extended the “Declared Public Precinct” – a special zone around North Tce, Rundle Mall, the Festival Plaza, Riverbank and the city’s west end – until April 10.

Under state law, police have special powers to remove and ban people from the zone, conduct random searches for weapons or drugs and impose fines for anti-social behaviour.

Officers can use the expanded powers from 10am to 10pm Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 6am Friday and Saturday and from 6pm to 10pm in the zone, with the changes in place from Tuesday.

The Declared Public Precinct in the CBD has been extended until April 2024.

The precinct, which was declared in July as part of a crackdown on escalating CBD crime and anti-social behaviour, includes “hotpots” such as Parliament House, the Adelaide Convention Centre, the Adelaide Railway Station, Elder Park, Government House, the National War Memorial, the University of Adelaide and the Torrens Parade Ground.

“I am satisfied that there is, during the period specified in this declaration, a reasonable likelihood of conduct in the area posing a risk to public order and safety,” Mr Maher said in a Government Gazette published on Monday.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher extended the Declared Public Precinct to April 2024, granting police special powers for a further six months. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

“I am satisfied that the inclusion of each public place in the area is reasonable having regard to that identified risk.”

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said the precinct’s extension would allow police to “continue to respond to and disrupt anti-social behaviour and offending”.

“The aim of this work is to support the community and those in other agencies working hard to keep our city vibrant,” Mr Szakacs said.

“The targeted response in the CBD is ensuring we have appropriate support services and agencies in place to identify and manage issues of safety and minimising any risk to citygoers of all kinds.

The extension is the latest move to combat crime and anti-social behaviour in the CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

“Our government has taken a firm and strong approach to legitimate community concerns to work towards ensuring everyone who visits and works in the CBD can feel safe.”

Police also flooded more officers into the CBD as part of Operation Paragon, launched in November last year to crackdown on crime hotspots.

A state government spokeswoman said the move came after a request from SA Police to extend the declaration.

“In making this declaration, the Attorney-General needed to be satisfied of several statutory components,” she said.

“This has required close work with SAPOL and examination of evidence they have provided.

“The state government will continue to closely monitor the effect and use of this new declaration.”