CBD traders want tougher stance from police as thousands let off with only a warning

As police downplay a surge in CBD crime, figures reveal the number of people let off with a caution this year is already nearly equal to the entire last financial year.

Marta Rog, owner of On The Way convenience store in the CBD. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Police have let 2555 adult offenders off with a caution already this year, almost the same as for the entire previous financial year.

As SAPOL battle increasing CBD crime it has released early figures showing their annual statewide roundup of people cautioned rather than taken to court or fined.

The figures bring the tally from the controversial system over seven years – introduced during major SAPOL budget cuts – to 19,653.

Police say the system was designed to ease delays in the courts, and Assistant Commissioner Phillip Newitt said: “Many thousands of hours have been saved by dealing with trivial or low-harm matters in this way”.

Cautions cannot be issued for serious offences, organised crime matters, violence, stalking or harassment against a family member, any sexual offence or any drug offence except for smoking cannabis.

But traders who have complained to The Advertiser over the past week about crime in the CBD said they wanted fines reintroduced as a stronger warning to criminals.

They were responding to SAPOL figures showing CBD and North Adelaide crime had increased from 7744 cases to 8482 in the past year.

The owner of this King William St store says he won't replace his doors broken by thieves any more because it costs $600 each time. Picture: Mile Kemp

King William St convenience store owner Marta Rog said store owners were often insured but had to pay an excess when windows and doors were smashed.

Her front door has recently been smashed, costing $600 to repair.

“It should be an automatic fine, especially as many store owners to not have automatic insurance cover,” Ms Rog said.

Amid minimising CBD crime figures in the past week, police commissioner Grant Stevens revealed police would not attend all incidents of property damage.

King William St Bean Bar owner Simon Robinson said violent property destruction, including broken front doors, was a common problem.

“The landlord fixes the property using their insurance but it is common,’’ he said.

“You would assume that qualifies for a fine, or being barred from the premises or coming near it.”

Convenience store manager Christina Nolte said she had worked in Hindley St for seven years and there were constant problems for shop owners.

“When they break a door and are caught on the cameras they should pay the fine to the government and pay insurance excess to the store, or pay for the repair,’’ she said.

“I’m pretty sure that would stop them pretty quickly.”

Mr Newitt said despite the offence, there were some offenders who were not considered suitable for a caution, and officers considered the:

HISTORY of the offender, including previous cautions.

OPINIONS of the victims of the crime.

OPINION of the police who detected the offence.

ATTITUDE of the offender.

SERIOUSNESS of the offence, which can include injuries to a victim, or the value of any property damaged.