SA Police set to assess Gouger St for inclusion in Adelaide’s Declared Public Precinct zone

SA’s top cop says police may be given extra powers to clamp down on more strife-ridden areas of the city such as Gouger St, amid fury from traders at escalating youth crime.

SA Police say they are looking at the possibility of making an application to the Attorney-General that would make trouble-plagued Gouger St part of the city’s Declared Public Precinct.

Under South Australian law, when an area becomes a Declared Public Precinct it gives police extra powers including more discretion to conduct metal detector searches, remove people or a group “posing a risk to public safety” and also to ban people from that precinct.

Police Commissioner Grant Steven addressing the media. Picture: Dean Martin

Commissioner Grant Stevens told ABC Radio on Wednesday morning that because of “anti-social behaviour” and “offences being committed” on Gouger St he had asked “my people to make an assessment as to whether we should put an application to the Attorney-General” to make Gouger St a Declared Public Precinct.

Currently, the northern boundary of North Terrace to the western boundary of Montefiore Rd; the Western Boundary of Montefiore Rd to the southern Bank of the River Torrens and Southern bank of the River Torrens to the eastern boundary of King William Rd are all Declared Public Precincts.

Gouchos restaurant manager Joe Puntureri, after his restaurant was robbed. Picture: Dean Martin

“Gouger St has had a reasonably steady number of crimes being reported from that area over the last three years and property damage, theft, theft from motor vehicles, issues related to alcohol consumption in licenced premises,” he said.

It follows reports traders on Gouger St are becoming increasingly fed up with escalating youth crime with anti-social behaviour on the rise and businesses frequently targeted and robbed.

Workers say groups of people, including children, were targeting businesses, vandalising street fronts, stealing liquor and groups could be found drinking in the street.

Gaucho’s Argentinian Eatery was the latest Gouger St restaurant to be targeted by youths, with a window smashed and liquor stolen early on Sunday morning.

Mr Stevens said that if his team decides to make an application, “it’s up to the Attorney-General as to whether he makes the declaration.”