Lockout laws haven't reduced violence at lockout time in Sydney's Kings Cross

Sydney's lockouts haven't reduced violence in Kings Cross, a district of the city that was its clubbing mecca prior to their introduction, directly after they're enforced.

The Daily Telegraph reports there has been no significant drop in violence in Kings Cross between the 1.30am lockout and 3am last drinks.

New South Wales (NSW) Bureau of Crime Statistics head Don Weatherburn said there had been a significant drop in violence in central Sydney during that time, but not in The Cross.

“Both of them (lockouts and early closing) worked for the CBD (central business district), only one worked for Kings Cross,’’ he told the paper.

“Kings Cross had a 94 per cent drop (in assaults) after 3am. The short story is Kings Cross got its principal benefit out of hours after 3am.’’

The laws, which the state government says are aimed at reducing violence, are under review and recommendations will be handed to the government in August.

Last month, the NSW Police Association said it would be open to lockouts being pushed back to later in the night.

[Via: The Daily Telegraph]

Scott Carbines is Mixmag's Australian Digital Content Editor, follow him on Twitter