City Safety
The Adelaide City Council works closely with government, business and the community to enhance safety and improve perceptions of safety in the City. Some of these initiatives are listed below.
Here are some useful tips developed by the Adelaide City Council and South Australian Police on how to stay safe in the city at night. These tips include how to stay safe while walking on the street at night and information on late-night transport services.
» Be safe on the street at night
» Late night transport information
Managed Taxi Ranks
Managed Taxi Ranks provide a safe place to wait for a taxi after a night out in the City. They also provide a safer meeting place to arrange to meet your friends.
On Friday and Saturday nights (11pm–3am) these ranks are operated by the Taxi Council of SA and staffed with a concierge and a security officer. Each of the managed Taxi ranks is well-lit and monitored by closed-circuit TV cameras. Council intends to increase the number of managed Taxi ranks in the future.
Local Safety Groups
Council meets regularly with stakeholders such as residents, business owners, education providers, organisations and government bodies to plan and implement safety improvements. Two examples of these groups are the West End Reference Group and Business Watch.
CCTV Cameras
There are more than 60 Council owned closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in operation in the City. CCTV signs inform the public if they are in an area of potential CCTV coverage. Council owns the cameras and SAPOL provides Operators to monitor them. CCTV may be used to:
● Deter potential offenders from committing crime in the area.
● To identify crime in the act and intervene.
● Enable real time monitoring of detected incidents.
● Assist identification and prosecution after an incident has occurred.
● Improve community confidence and perceptions of safety in areas with CCTV coverage.
● Enable Council to enforce the Local Government Act and By-Laws.
Dry Area
Adelaide streets and squares are a Dry Area and have been since 2001. It is illegal to drink alcohol or carry an open container of alcohol in a Dry Area. The Park Lands are not a Dry Area. The Dry Area exists to create a safer City environment and is enforced by the police. The current Dry Area expires in October 2011 and is currently under review. The following exceptions apply:
● Outdoor areas with an outdoor dining permit and appropriate liquor license.
● Carrying a sealed bottle of wine from a restaurant to a car or mode of transport.
Further information
Further advice and information on can be gained by contacting Felicity Schievenin, Community Safety Officer, on 8203 7435.
Other Public Safety Information
Public Realm Safety
Council manages safety in the public realm including around building sites (see City Works Guidelines (PDF, 4Mb)), issuing permits for outdoor dining and encroachments, through alcohol management and liquor licensing services and responding to community safety concerns in the Park Lands and public space (see Services).
The Dog and Cat Management Act requires that all dogs be under effective control at all times. For more information on areas set aside for dogs to exercise off leash see:
» Dogs in the Park Lands (PDF, 543Kb)
Public Health and Safety
Council Environmental Health Officers address and prevent disease harbourage and transmission with a focus on food handlers, cooling towers, swimming pools, warm water systems, tattooing and body piercing by conducting inspections and education (see Health).
