Knife crime in SA worsens with six knife incidents in two weeks

Three people were taken to hospital, one with serious lacerations from a knife, after a brawl overnight. We detail the latest and talk to an expert about why there’s been a spike in knife incidents.

Two people have been bitten, while another man suffered serious lacerations from a knife in a street brawl at Greenacres.

The fight between two men and a woman broke out on Whysall St about 8.20pm Wednesday.

Police found a man with lacerations to his hands and torso from a knife.

Investigations revealed the man was armed with the knife when he sustained injuries during the altercation.

The Greenacres man, 26, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault.

He was taken to hospital and will have to undergo surgery on his hands.

Another man and woman reported being bitten during the incident.

They were taken ot the Modbury Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The arrested man was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in September.

It’s the latest in a spate of violent knife-related incidents in Adelaide in recent weeks, including a group fight at Christie Downs on Tuesday night.

During the ordeal a man, 26, of Port Noarlunga, was stabbed in the torso while a Christie Downs man, 18, had other assault injuries.

The 26-year-old was charged on Wednesday with affray.

The 18-year-old is expected to be charged this week.

Both men were taken to the Flinders Medical Centre for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Police at the scene of a brawl at Tea Tree Plaza. Picture: Colin James

Police say all parties are known to each other.

Police dog Marley searched the area and found the knife believed to be involved in the incident.

Crime Scene investigators have examined the scene.

The incident was not related to nearby Southern Districts Baseball Club and no members were involved.

There have been four other stabbing incidents in South Australia in two weeks with most involving group fights.

Another man was also arrested following a stabbing at Whyalla Stuart on Tuesday night.

Police say two men were involved in an altercation inside a home on Head St about 9.30pm, before a man was stabbed in the neck.

The victim, 37, was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

A 23-year-old local man was arrested and charged with assault causing serious harm, he was refused bail to appear in local court on Wednesday.

It follows a group brawl in the car park of McDonald’s at Modbury last month.

Three people have since been arrested after a boy, 15, was stabbed in the abdomen in the fight involving up to 50 people last week.

Meanwhile, a Semaphore South boy, 16, was stabbed near the jetty last Monday in a random attack by a group of men not known to him.

The boy was with two other friends when he was approached by the group and stabbed in the leg. He was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

In a separate incident, a man was taken to hospital on Wednesday night after he was stabbed in the torso in another altercation at Davoren Park.

The scene of the stabbing at Davoren Park. Picture: 7 NEWS

The 35-year-old victim, of no fixed address, was treated for stab wounds and head injuries.

Another man was arrested in the CBD on Wednesday, July 8, for allegedly throwing knives at a tree.

Members of the public reported the man had a knife on Rundle St about 7.30pm.

Police arrested the man, 39, of no fixed address and charged him with carrying an offensive weapon and disorderly behaviour. He was bailed to appear in court in September.

The opposition this week made calls for increased safety on public trains after alarming new figures revealed a sharp rise in knife crimes on Adelaide’s train network.

Transport Department figures, through Freedom of Information, revealed knife incidents rose from four in 2018 to 10 in 2020.

Anyone with information on any of the stabbing incidents should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

WHY IS THERE A RISE IN KNIFE CRIME IN ADELAIDE?

A spate of knife-related crimes in Adelaide in recent weeks spans from young people carrying weapons because they have an “us vs them” mentality, a criminology expert says.

Flinders University Criminology Professor Andrew Goldsmith said knives were cheap, easy to obtain, and concealable, making them an appealing defence weapon.

“Knives are obviously very affordable, and easily obtained through kitchenware and hardware stores so it’s a very affordable means of arming up, unlike getting hold of a gun,” Prof Goldsmith said.

He said more educational pathways into employment should be provided to young people at school to limit knife crime and prevent anti-social group behaviour on the streets.

“A lot of these kids drift into these activities because … school doesn’t work out for them. There are fewer jobs for some of these people to go into, so there’s a feeling of aimlessness,” he said.

”Providing more education on pathways into the workforce is necessary.”

He said some young men have circular thinking – that they should carry a knife for protection if someone else is carrying one.

“If you’re moving on the streets and you’ve got this sense of us vs them, which is not uncommon in groups of young people in disadvantaged areas, a higher prevalence of knife incidents is to be expected.”