Alcohol related crime in the Sydney Local Government Area

NDARC Staff

Stephanie Love, Anthony Shakeshaft

Other Investigators

Elissa Wood (NHS Kingston, UK)

Aims

To apply a surrogate measure of alcohol-related crime to Sydney LGA to determine whether rates of crime have increased over time.

Design and Method

Longitudinal data analysis using routinely collected police data, modified to improve the reliability of the measure.

Progress

The initial analyses have been completed and the report is currently available on the City of Sydney Council website for public comment. The data showed an increase in alcohol-related crime in Kings Cross between 2000 and 2007 and in Darlinghurst for the same time period. The most likely explanation for the increase in Kings Cross is the density of alcohol outlets and the high proportion of them that are open late at night, while the most likely explanation for Darlinghurst is the substantial increase in the number of alcohol outlets over that time period. Annual updates of the analysis are to be conducted.

Funding

City of Sydney Council