Special legal powers including random police searches to hit CBD for next three months

Public safety risks in the CBD have prompted a landmark widening of special police powers. See what they’ll be able to do now.

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 another three months.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher on Wednesday authorised the “Declared Public Precinct” for the West End, around North Tce, Rundle Mall, Festival Plaza, Riverbank and West End during peak trouble times.

The declaration targets 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 acted after a police request, is “satisfied” new rules are needed due to a public order and safety “risk” until early July.

South Australian Attorney-General Kyam Maher. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Police on the beat along Hindley Street in Adelaide’s CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

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.

A police spokesman said the DPP had “proven an effective tool to help reduce anti-social behaviour in our CBD”.

“While Mad March and the festival season is behind us, police will continue to work closely with the State Government and other key stakeholders to ensure the safety of visitors and patrons to the CBD,” he said.

“Police acknowledge that while this is an effective enforcement strategy it is only one element of addressing the issues of anti-social behaviours.”

Owner of O’Connell’s Bookshop on Bank Street, between North Terrace and Hindley Street, Ben O’Connell said he had noticed a significant uptick in anti-social behaviour outside his shop in the past decade.

“I actually checked my phone’s history and last year I think I called the South Australian Police 20 times for various different incidents,” he said.

“There’s flagrant drug-use out in the street, which, years ago, you would never see.

“Police presence is paramount. We’ve got a great police force, there’s great people in the police force (and) I know many personally, we just need more.”

Owner of O'Connell's Bookshop, Ben O'Connell with Opposition leader David Speirs (right) and Shadow Police Minister, Sam Telfer.

On Wednesday, opposition leader David Speirs visited O’Connell’s Bookshop, amid growing concerns there was a rise in crime in the Adelaide CBD.

Mr Speirs said the police numbers were dwindling and took aim at the state government for sending 20 police officers to Alice Springs to alleviate pressure on the Northern Territory Police.

“We are losing officers left, right and centre, and then we’re sending some off to Alice Springs as well … it’s just not working here,” he said.

Minister for Police, Joe Szakacs said it was “common practice” for different states and territories when there are natural disasters, bushfires or other emergencies, as they would return the favour if SA needed it.

Mr Szakacs said the government had committed $12.2 million in last year’s state budget which would go towards an “accelerated recruitment” over the next three years, and $81.8 million to recruit an additional 189 sworn police security officers over four years.