A violent vigil
Bearing witness to a night on Kings Cross's streets of shame.
As the politicians talk about clamping down on drunken behaviour in King Cross, more than 30 people were arrested on drug and assault charges between Saturday night and yesterday morning.
The Government, wanting to be seen to be acting after the death of Sydney teenager Thomas Kelly during a night in the Cross, announced last week it would introduce tough new laws to stop patrons buying shots, multiple drinks and making venues have two responsible service of alcohol marshals on duty.
While police were refusing to release figures on exactly how many people were arrested over the weekend, three assaults were witnessed by The Daily Telegraph in less than 20 minutes yesterday.
About 1.45am neat The Sapphire Lounge on Kellett St, a man was arrested after failing to leave the premises and assaulting security guards. A police spokeswoman said it was a domestic incident and an AVO was applied for.
Ten minutes later a man was punched and left bleeding near the Bada Bing nightclub. Police said they were unable to produce details about the incident. Another four men were involved in a brawl outside the Piano Room on Bayswater Rd just after 2am and despite a number of officers seen in the area. They did not know if anyone had been charged.
A police spokeswoman said in another incident an argument in Showgirls stop club at about 5am resulted in a man being punched.
Of the people arrested a significant number were for the supply and possession of drugs, mainly “party pills”.
A police spokesman said: “As the weather picks up so do the numbers of people coming here and also their behaviour seems to get worse the warmer it is.
The Cross has come under increasing public scrutiny after Mr Kelly, 18, was punched and killed on Saturday, July 7.
But despite the proposed new laws, licensed premises have until September 6 to make submissions against the new conditions and the Australian Hotels Association last week met with Premier Barry O’Farrell to discuss the changes. Police said there has not been an increase in officers on the street since Mr Kelly’s death but a sniffer dog operation on Saturday night might have given the appearance there were extra numbers of police out there.
Written by Mark Morri.
Source: AHA NSW and The Daily Telegraph, 27 August 2012
