4 ms·

King's Cross is super dodgy, especially at night. It attracted drunks, deros, druggies, prostitutes and other unsavory types. It was not a nice place to visit a

King's Cross is super dodgy, especially at night. It attracted drunks, deros, druggies, prostitutes and other unsavory types. It was not a nice place to visit and it had a reputation for violence. The lockout laws have stopped the violence. They have also caused collateral damage in the form of these closures. So there you have it. Would you rather be safe out or cry over the closure of a few late night businesses? Having experienced all sides of King's Cross, I know which I'd choose.

pc86 11y ago
It states in the article that violence had decreased 40% prior to these laws. Is that just a coincidence?
- gradstudent 11y ago
  There was a general decline across the greater metropolitan area but, iirc, King's Cross was a notable hotspot. The figures for violent non-domestic assaults before and after the laws show a very sharp decline. Here is one police comparison (there might be more recent data but it's hard to search on a tablet): http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_news/Mapping-the-impact-of-the-Sydney-lockout-laws-on-assault.aspx http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_news/Mapping-the-i...
stupidcar 11y ago
Since I actually read the article, rather than parroting preconceived cowardice about "unsavoury types", I don't have to make this false choice: > Bravely, his government had first tried to tamp down the issue with cold facts: statistics showed drunken violence was actually decreasing, by almost 40% according to some estimates, and the culture of small bars was starting to sap violent drinking away from the city.
- gradstudent 11y ago
  I read the article. I also read the police statistics. Have you? But anyway, two specific points: 1. Small bars are exempt from the laws: http://www.nsw.gov.au/newlaws http://www.nsw.gov.au/newlaws 2. In the 10+ years I've known Sydney I did not notice much change in the late night character of King's Cross; certainly not enough to make believe the culture of drugs, drunks, prostitution and violence is going away all by itself. The fact that the laws were introduced in the first place is testament to that.
deleted 11y ago
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pc86 11y ago

It states in the article that violence had decreased 40% prior to these laws. Is that just a coincidence?

gradstudent 11y ago
There was a general decline across the greater metropolitan area but, iirc, King's Cross was a notable hotspot. The figures for violent non-domestic assaults before and after the laws show a very sharp decline. Here is one police comparison (there might be more recent data but it's hard to search on a tablet): http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_news/Mapping-the-impact-of-the-Sydney-lockout-laws-on-assault.aspx http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_news/Mapping-the-i...

stupidcar 11y ago

Since I actually read the article, rather than parroting preconceived cowardice about "unsavoury types", I don't have to make this false choice: > Bravely, his government had first tried to tamp down the issue with cold facts: statistics showed drunken violence was actually decreasing, by almost 40% according to some estimates, and the culture of small bars was starting to sap violent drinking away from the city.

gradstudent 11y ago
I read the article. I also read the police statistics. Have you? But anyway, two specific points: 1. Small bars are exempt from the laws: http://www.nsw.gov.au/newlaws http://www.nsw.gov.au/newlaws 2. In the 10+ years I've known Sydney I did not notice much change in the late night character of King's Cross; certainly not enough to make believe the culture of drugs, drunks, prostitution and violence is going away all by itself. The fact that the laws were introduced in the first place is testament to that.

deleted 11y ago

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