Police on days off and annual leave get call-up to help combat violence in Hindley Street

SA Police are calling on officers who are on days off or annual leave to do extra shifts to tackle violence on a notorious CBD street.

Police officers on days off and on annual leave are accepting extra shifts to help bolster weekend patrols along Hindley St in a bid to curb drug and alcohol-fuelled violence.

Acting Superintendent Damien Eichner, officer in charge of the Eastern District said SAPOL was tapping into its Volunteer Return to Service Scheme to increase the number of police on the notorious party strip on Friday and Saturday nights.

Under the scheme, officers can put their names down to work extra shifts.

They can only work them, however, if they are ona day off or are on annual leave, and they must have had at least an eight-hour break between shifts.

Acting Superintendent Damien Eichner, officer in charge of the Eastern District said SAPOL was tapping into its Volunteer Return to Service Scheme to increase the number of police on Hindley Street.

The move to boost the police presence comes amid concerns from traders about violent and unruly incidents – the most recent serious one being last Sunday.

Jordan Leon Dodd, 20, was coward-punched in the early hours outside The District nightclub, leaving him fighting for life in hospital.

Craig Sansbury-Weetra, 23, of Clearview, has been charged with one count of causing serious harm to another person with intent.

Superintendent Eichner said dealing with anti-social behaviour in the Hindley St precinct was an “ongoing challenge”, with SAPOL records showing an average of 310 assaults annually over the past three years.

He said tapping into “return to service” officers ensured an adequate numbers on the beat in Hindley St.

Superintendent Eichner said SAPOL was also using the Adelaide City Council’s extensive CCTV network to combat bad behaviour. Additionally, police were conducting Operation Safe City on Friday and Saturday nights, using powers available – because Hindley St is a declared public precinct – to remove people identified to be a threat.

However, Superintendent Eichner acknowledged that officers “can’t be everywhere all the time”.

Business owners and workers along the street say they are growing weary of incessant violent and abusive conduct by unruly partygoers.

Hindley street business are very wary of Friday and Saturday night. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The Black Bull Hotel’s manager – who asked to remain anonymous – said Hindley St “never feels safe”.

“As staff, we’re always on the lookout for patrons that might turn aggressive towards us,” she said.

“We’re trained in how to see that and how to deal with customer violence, even if it’s just verbal, but it’s still something we’re wary of.

“But I do think that even more of a concern is making sure that there isn’t a rogue patron that can turn violent against other customers.

“When things do happen, it always impacts the reputation of the street and the general atmosphere for us workers.”

Even businesses that only open during daylight hours are often affected by anti-social behaviour.

Cafe Bang Bang manager Jacobus de Kort said the establishment – which is next to a police station – regularly experienced alcohol and drug-affected patrons.

“As our working hours are a little bit different from Hindley St’s partying time, we mostly don’t see the worst of it, but we do have to often deal with the aftermath,” he said.

“On the weekend, in the mornings, we do see people in various states of mind, whether they be drunk or they’re high.

“They often meander around and then come in here as we’re opening and bad-mouth us.”

Mr de Kort said such incidents made staff feel unsafe, and it affected their ability to work without feeling threatened.

“I think having the police station behind us, it brings us a sense of security mentally, but in the real world it doesn’t do much good, as the police can’t respond fast enough,” he said.

Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive officer Anna Moeller said the organisation regularly met with SAPOL to discuss any issues and work together to stamp out anti-social conduct.

“There needs to be a focus on education,” she said.

“I know that not all of the violence is contained to young people, but I think if we can start with young people, it may help.”

Human Services Minister Nat Cook said she was concerned about the violence and condemned last weekend’s assault.

“This kind of behaviour is sickening and has absolutely no place in our society,” she said.

“As a family, we know all too well the devastating impact an assault of this nature can have.

“My thoughts are with the family of the young man who is fighting for his life in hospital.”

Ms Cook’s 17-year-old son, Sam, died after falling victim to an unprovoked one-punch attack in 2008. The same year, Ms Cook and her husband, Neil Davis, established The Sammy D Foundation to educate young people on the impact of bullying, violence, and drug and alcohol use.

Champion Australian boxer Danny Green, who has been spearheading the Stop the Coward Punch campaign since 2012, also spokeout following last weekend’s attack.

“As a parent, I know all I want is for my children to be able to go out and enjoy themselves without the fear of being harmed or, worse, killed because of a disgusting act of cowardice,” he said.

“The impact of these unnecessary assaults on the families of victims and survivors lasts forever.”

In the coming months, the campaign will release on its website a documentary called “Preventing Tragedy – The Coward Punch Campaign” to highlight the consequences of such violence.