Adelaide crime wave: Attorney-General Kyam Maher grants unprecedented widening of SA Police new powers over CBD pests

Adelaide’s most popular areas could be declared off limits to serial troublemakers as police gain powers they say will let them fix the CBD’s crime crisis.

City troublemakers face bans from Adelaide’s most popular areas and random police searches, under an unprecedented legal bid to crush the CBD’s mounting crime wave crisis.

The state’s top legal officer has authorised a landmark widening of police powers to crack down on criminals, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence for the next three months.

Based on extensive police intelligence and crime data, a new “Declared Public Precinct” to restore public safety will expand – from a current Friday and Saturday nights in the West End – to seven days.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher on Friday approved a special zone, to start this week until mid-October, around North Tce, Rundle Mall, Festival Plaza, Riverbank and West End during peak trouble times.

A map of the declared public precinct. Picture: state government

The declaration targets key “hotspot” areas including Parliament House, Convention Centre, Adelaide Railway Station, Elder Park, Government House, War Memorial, Adelaide University, Torrens Parade Ground and War Memorial.

Mr Maher, who is “satisfied” new rules are needed due to a public order and safety “risk”, ruled the zone would be enforced over 12 hours from 10am on Monday to Thursday, between 6pm and 6am on Friday and Saturday nights and six hours on Sunday until 10pm.

Under state law, officers have special powers to remove and ban people from a specific area, conduct random searches for weapons or drugs and impose $344 fines for anti-social behaviour.

Police walking Hindley St and North Terrace. Picture: Brett Hartwig

It also allows police with concerns about minors to remove them from dangerous situations and return them home, or to a safer location for proper care.

The laws, introduced in 2017 to combat then rising CBD violence, will be imposed on West and North Tce, and King William, Hindley Currie, Pulteney, Grenfell, Morphett streets as well as Victoria Drive along the River Torrens and Kintore Ave.

The laws will come into force on Tuesday after a formal Government Gazette notice is published tomorrow.

Senior police had applied for 24/7 powers for at least a year.

In response to inquiries, Mr Maher said: “The precinct includes key hot spots, and responds to extensive data and other advice from (SA Police).

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

State law says the Attorney-General must be “satisfied that special circumstances exist” to authorise any zones longer than 12 hours.

SA Police’s Operation Paragon is also flooding more officers into the area in a bid to quell violent incidents and unruly behaviour.

Hospitality staff have been forced to escort frightened tourists and visitors back to CBD hotels as the state’s liquor watchdog extended takeaway alcohol sale restrictions until the festive season.

Police on Bank St near Hindley St. Authorities acted after a series of stories in The Advertiser highlighting the mounting issue. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Police Minister Joe Szakacs, who will on Sunday with Hunan Services Minister Nat Cook announce new areas for the homeless in the parklands, said it will “go a long way” to disrupt anti-social behaviour and criminal acts but denied it would push the problem to other areas.

“The extension of Declared Public Precincts will go a long way to ensuring (police) can continue to respond to and disrupt anti-social behaviour and criminal acts,” he said.

“(It will also) allow its hardworking frontline staff to expand the scope of their collaborative work with government agencies and support services.

“I’m confident it will help to ensure our city remains a bright and vibrant place to work and visit.

“The targeted response in the CBD is not about pushing the problem away.

“But (it’s) about 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.”

Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval, who manages Adelaide operations, said: “Exercise of these authorities will assist (us) in maintaining public order and safety.”

Opposition spokesman, Sam Telfer, said while the Liberals welcomed the rules it “does nothing to address the chronic police officer shortage”.

“Until Labor decides to prioritise this serious issue, they are taking shortsighted action to fix long-term problems,” he said.