Adelaide CBD crime wave: senior SA Police officer confronted with city’s anti-social problems during walkabout

More police officers have been posted to trouble-plagued areas around the CBD to clamp down on rising crime. So what’s it like out there for the officers? We found out.

Superintendent Scott Denny on North Terrace. Picture: Brett Hartwig

It was designed to show police’s new show of force to crackdown on rising violence and bad behaviour in central Adelaide.

But the commander of SA Police’s new city operations was confronted on Friday afternoon with precisely the anti-social problems authorities desperately want to stamp out.

During a walkabout with The Advertiser, Superintendent Scott Denny was asked for help from a threatened woman as she walked along Bank St, between Hindley St and North Tce.

Supt Denny, the new officer-in-charge of Eastern District and CBD, spoke with Virginia Blanco, 31, just before 4pm after an intoxicated male suspect put a fist in her face.

Superintendent Scott Denny speaks with Virginia Blanco on Bank St on Friday after the cafe worker told how she was threatened. Picture: Brett Hartwig

He then called in patrols to escort Miss Blanco – a Bank St coffee shop worker who emigrated four years ago from Venezuela in northern South America – to the Hindley St station, where she gave a statement.

Miss Blanco, of Ridleyton, in Adelaide’s inner north, said she was left shaken.

“I’m OK, I see them quite often in the city,” she said.

Superintendent Denny speaks to patrols about the incident, which occurred a short distance away on Bank St. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The officers take Miss Blanco and her colleague to Hindley St police station where she gave a statement. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“He was with a group and put his fist up at me, threatening to hit me. I just stayed calm so he would not escalate.

“A woman told me to mention it to police because it needed to be reported.

“The police were really nice and helpful. They said they would look at the (CCTV) footage and would contact me if they needed anything else.”

Superintendent Denny on North Tce. He said the increased visibility was a deliberate strategy. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Operation Paragon, stood up in November last year, will flood more officers into “hotspot” areas around North Tce to clampdown on rising crime, anti-social behaviour and fears of violence.

Senior police have proposed a new Declared Public Precinct zone to significantly widen special anti-social laws outside the West End, which Attorney-General Kyam Maher is now considering.

During Friday’s walkaround, the number of police seen along North Tce around Adelaide Railway Station, was stark.

Patrols, with two or three officers, monitored behaviour while several marked vehicles were see – some with lights flashing.

Officers on North Tce near Adelaide Railway station. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Supt Denny, a senior officer with almost 30 years’ experience, ordered a male to stop publicly drinking alcohol.

“This is a dry zone mate, tip it out,” he told the visibly intoxicated man.

When a pensioner walked past and commented “there’s plenty of you guys around, good to see”, he responded that people should “get used to it”.

Police with the new dune buggy style vehicle. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Supt Denny, who started in the city role three weeks ago after being moved from the being the Murray Mallee’s top officer, later said the “highly visible approach” would have a “low tolerance” for anti-social behaviour.

He said success would be measured in a “visual reduction in anti-social behaviour, but also … increased community satisfaction”.

“This very much about providing a highly visible approach to prevent crime and also to install confidence … towards public safety,” said Supt Denny, who managed police’s Covid-19 border operation.

“It comes in response to increased concerns that’s widely advertised at the moment about anti-social behaviour in parts of the CBD.

Police outside Parliament House. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“If I were have a look at what we would do during a road safety issue – if we identified that we had problems on roads in certain areas or we know we’ve got a high volume times such as long weekends – I’m adopting a similar approach and tactics.

“I think it would be pretty quick that you would notice a reduction in the social behaviour.”

The comments came as a gang of thieves remain at large after a city robbery early on Sunday.

Police were called to the Big Grill Convenience store on Waymouth St just before 4am after two women threatened staff before stealing cigarettes and cash.

The pair, fled north through Topham Mall with another two men and a woman. Despite searches, they are at large. Store management declined to comment.

Superintendent Denny said the operation would target high volume areas. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said the government had developed a suite of measures to respond to ongoing anti-social behaviour in the CBD.

“Our hardworking police will be impossible to miss in the CBD through a highly visible presence,” he said.

“The aim of immediately increasing Operation Paragon resources is to support the community and those in other agencies working hard to keep our city vibrant and to support those in our community who need it the most.”