Police crime maps show an explosion of violence in hot spots in Fortitude Valley, Surfers Paradise and Townsville

THOUSANDS of assaults have been recorded in the Fortitude Valley nightclub precinct in a decade of drunken violence.

A typical night in Fortitude Valley for Brisbane police, who battle to contain the drunken violence on the streets.

THOUSANDS of assaults have been recorded in the Fortitude Valley nightclub precinct in a decade of drunken violence.

New police crime maps show for the first time the concentration of assaults around late-night venues over the past 10 years.

A block near the corner of Brunswick and Ann streets had the most offences, with 733 assaults and one murder or attempted murder.

Hot spots around Surfers Paradise and Townsville bars recorded thousands more assaults in the same period.

Anti-violence campaigners say the figures are damning and they want a crackdown on pubs and clubs, but owners say they are not to blame.

Royal Brisbane Hospital maxillofacial surgeon Anthony Lynham said the level of alcohol-fuelled violence was "disgusting''.

Dr Lynham wants earlier closing times at licensed venues and restrictions on the sale of shots and double pours of spirits.

He cites a 37 per cent reduction in assaults in Newcastle after pubs and clubs were forced to close at 3am.

"I met a manager of one of those clubs right in those hot spots and he absolutely denied there was a problem,'' Dr Lynham said.

"(But) 60 to 70 per cent of assaults occur at a licensed venue or within 100m of a licensed venue.''

The Courier-Mail analysed online crime maps, launched last week, for assaults and murders near late-night venues.

Hundreds of assaults occurred over the past year in the three "drink-safe precincts'' of Fortitude Valley, Surfers Paradise and Townsville.

A trial of the precincts that has lasted almost three years will finish in September, with the State Government under pressure to find new solutions.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie yesterday said the precincts "appear to be working'' with crime and ambulance call-outs down in Fortitude Valley and Surfers Paradise.

"I believe the DSPs have merit and deserve to stay in some form but the current funding model can't be sustained,'' Mr Bleijie said.

"A committee is currently reviewing a range of future funding models and I'm awaiting its recommendations before making any decisions.''

There were a total of 4287 assaults in Fortitude Valley in the past decade, the crime maps show. Almost 3300 of the assaults were in 10 locations, or hot spots.

Valley Liquor Accord chairman Nick Braban said assault figures were low when compared to the number of weekly revellers.

He estimated 50,000 to 80,000 people flocked to the area each week on Friday and Saturday nights combined.

Earlier closing hours would take Brisbane backwards and would not prevent pre-loading on cheap drinks at home, he said.

The most offences in Surfers Paradise were at Orchid Ave (940 assaults) and the most in Townsville were near the corner of Flinders and King streets (470 assaults).

Following problems with violence around licensed venues, Newcastle also introduced 1.30am lockouts and banned shots and double spirits after 10pm.

ASSAULTS CASE STUDY - FRIDAY, JUNE 15 to SUNDAY, JUNE 17.
* 12.12am Saturday: assault, near Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley. Solved.
* 2.35am Saturday: assault, near Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise. Solved.
* 3am Saturday: assault, near Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley. Solved.
* 8pm Saturday: assault, near Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley. Solved.
* 1.30am Sunday: assault, near Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley. Unsolved.
* 1.30am Sunday: assault, near Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley. Unsolved.
* 1am to 1.30am Sunday: assault, near Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise. Solved.
* 1am to 2am Sunday: assault, near Brunswick and Robertson streets, Fortitude Valley. Solved.
* 1am to 4am Sunday: assault, near Queen Street Mall, Brisbane CBD. Solved.
* 3.17am Sunday: assault, near Brunswick and Berwick streets, Fortitude Valley. Solved
* 11.50pm Sunday: assault, near Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley. Solved.
(Sample of Queensland assaults, from police crime maps)

QUICK STATS

* 4287 assaults in Fortitude Valley in total in the past 10 years.
* 253 assaults in three hot spots of Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley in the past year.
* 3292 assaults in Fortitude Valley's top 10 hot spots in the past 10 years.
* 4620 assaults in Surfers Paradise in the past 10 years.
* 73 assaults around Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise in the past year.
* 940 assaults around Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise in the past 10 years.
* 2626 assaults in the top 10 Surfers Paradise hot spots in the past 10 years.
* 78 assaults in two Flinders St, Townsville hot spots in the past year.
* 1067 assaults in three Flinders St, Townsville hot spots in the past 10 years.
(All periods to June 21, 2013)

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