Declared Public Precincts
What is a Declared Public Precinct?
A Declared Public Precinct is a strictly defined area that has been proclaimed to give certain powers to police to maintain public safety and order in that area.
Where are the Declared Public Precincts?
Where is the Declared Public Precinct?
The area to be a Declared Public Precinct is contained within the boundaries of:
- Northern boundary of North Terrace to western boundary of West Terrace; and
- Western boundary of West Terrace to southern boundary of Currie Street; and
- Southern boundary of Currie Street to eastern boundary of King William Street; and
- Eastern boundary of King William Street to northern boundary of North Terrace
The stated geographical area has been described as ‘City West’ for ease of reference.
When is the Declared Public Precinct operational?
SA Police has identified a heightened risk to public safety and order during the hours of 6pm and 6am each Friday and Saturday. The City West Declared Public Precinct will therefore be operational from:
- 6pm to 6am each Friday and Saturday.
The Declared Public Precinct will commence from 6pm on Friday, 22 November 2019 until declared otherwise or until 6am on Sunday, 22 November 2020, whichever occurs sooner.
Where is the Declared Public Precinct?
The area to be a Declared Public Precinct is contained within the boundaries of:
- Eastern boundary of King William Street from southern boundary of Grenfell Street to northern boundary of North Terrace
- Eastern boundary of King William Road from northern boundary of North Terrace to the southern bank of the River Torrens
- The southern bank of the River Torrens from eastern boundary of King William Road to the eastern boundary of Frome Road
- Eastern boundary of Frome Road from the southern bank of the River Torrens to the northern boundary of North Terrace
- Northern boundary of North Terrace from Frome Road to Botanic Road
- Northern boundary of Botanic Road to eastern boundary of Dequetteville Terrace
- Western boundary of Dequetteville Terrace to southern boundary of Bartels Road
- Southern boundary of Bartels Road to East Terrace
- Southern boundary of East Terrace to western boundary of Hutt Street
- Western boundary of East Terrace to southern boundary of Grenfell Street
- Southern boundary of Grenfell Street to eastern boundary of King William Street
The stated geographical area has been described as ‘Fringe 2020’ for ease of reference.
When is the Declared Public Precinct operational?
The ‘Fringe 2020’ declared public precinct operates for a period of 12 hours from 6:00pm on each night commencing on Friday 14 February 2020, local time and reoccurring for each described day and time of the week until declared otherwise or until 6:00am on Sunday 15 March 2020, whichever occurs sooner.
What does this mean?
To maintain public safety and order, SA Police are able to do the following in the Declared Public Precinct:
- conduct a metal detector search of a person and any property in their possession for the presence of weapons
- carry out general drug detection in relation to any person within the precinct
- order a person / group posing a risk to public safety and order to leave the declared public precinct
- ban a person who commits an offence of a kind that may pose a risk to public safety and order, or behaves in an offensive or disorderly manner within the precinct (for up to 24 hours)
- remove children from the declared public precinct who are in danger of physical harm or abuse, behaving in an offensive or disorderly manner, or otherwise committing or about to commit an offence.
These powers give police the ability to issues expiation notices for offences within the geographic area or to issue barring orders covering the precinct. These are similar to, but in addition to, licensed premises barring orders.
If you are subject to any of the above, you are legally required to comply with the officer’s direction.
What are the maximum penalties involved?
A person who is barred, but enters or remains, in the Declared Public Precinct is guilty of an offence which carries a maximum penalty of $2500.
A person who is ordered to leave, but remains, re-enters, or attempts to re-enter, the Declared Public Precinct is guilty of an offence which carries a maximum penalty of $1250.
A person who behaves in an offensive or disorderly manner within a Declared Public Precinct faces a maximum penalty of $1250. (Expiation fee $250 + $60 Victim of Crime Levy).
A person who carries an offensive weapon or dangerous article within the Declared Public Precinct is guilty of an offence which carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 or imprisonment for two years.
Why was this introduced?
The changes to the Summary Offences Act 1953 were enacted to maintain public safety and order in a defined area for which there is a reasonable likelihood of conduct in the area posing a risk to public safety and order and that the area is reasonable having regard to the identified risk.
A ‘declared public precinct’ determination for the ‘City West’ area will significantly enhance the ability of SA Police to appropriately manage conduct that poses a risk to public safety and order for members of the community using this area.