Violence and Crime in Byron Bay

THE mayor and a senior police officer insist violence and crime are under control in Byron Bay. But new figures reveal a disturbingly different story: a person is more likely to be assaulted by a youth walking around this coastal mecca than in the city. Drunken teenagers are being blamed for attacking tourists in Byron Bay â€“ where in 2004 they committed nearly double the offences against a person than were recorded in Waverley , where Bondi Beach is found. According to the Bureau of Crime Statistics, there were 361.4 offences committed against a person by under 18s in Byron Bay, while in Waverley there were 173.2.

There were also more motor vehicle thefts with three more cars stolen in Byron Bay by teenagers. “Byron Bay has a big crime problem,” bureau director Don Weatherburn said. “It’s unquestionable it’s young people causing trouble (here). “Usually it’s Australian tourists who cop the brunt of that assault because international tourists are more isolated â€“ unless they are backpackers.” Mayor Jan Barham last week declared: “Byron Bay is one of the safest places in the country.” Inspector Owen King echoed the laissez-faire sentiments: “It’s like every country coastal town. You see the same problems.”

Dr Weatherburn said alcohol fuelled most offensive behaviours and blamed a lack of parental control. “If children are drinking in high numbers, you have to wonder (about) responsible service laws at pubs or how they get it from bottle shops,” he said. With a high transient population, Dr Weatherburn said there was also no sense of community, which led to theft. “When you’ve got poor people living next to quite rich people, it’s an ingredient for high crime.”

When The Daily Telegraph walked the streets on Friday and Saturday night there was a sign on the main roundabout saying “cherp (sic) down Rex you started it”. There were large gangs of youths walking the streets â€“ drinking, walking in roads, falling in gutters, vomiting and jeering _ especially at women. There were two police vehicles patrolling for a short time at 10pm as well as two officers on the beat, then another vehicle about midnight when the Beach Hotel closed.

Even police on the beat said it was “quiet” compared to recent weeks. Walking the streets at about midnight, Ms Barham called on Rex Hunt to clarify what happened the night he claims he and his son were bashed by youths for being a tourist. “It’s only one side of the story, the young people he blames are saying something else so you have to wonder who is correct,” she said. There was only one person charged the whole weekend â€“ a 27-year-old female for high range drink-driving.

Posted: Monday, November 7th, 2005 Under: News. | Home |

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