Release date: 6 September, 2010

The Medically Supervised Injection Centre has not had a negative impact on robbery, property crime or drug offences in Kings Cross LAC, according to the latest monitoring report by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

The Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) opened in Kings Cross in May 2001.

The Bureau examined trends in robbery, property crime and drug offences recorded by NSW Police crime between January 1999 and March 2010 to determine whether there had been increases in the volume of robbery, property crime and drug offences in Kings Cross Local Area Command. The results were compared to the corresponding trends for the rest of Sydney SD.

Spatial analyses were used to determine whether drug arrests were concentrated around the MSIC site. Police recorded incidents of possession and dealing of narcotics, cocaine and amphetamines were geocoded and mapped with the results inferred by descriptive statistics and visual inspection.

With a few minor exceptions the incidence of robbery and property offences have fallen in the Kings Cross Local Area Command since 2001. This pattern is consistent with the rest of Sydney.

Of the six drug offences considered, five have been stable in Kings Cross since 2001. The exception was cocaine possession which increased in both Kings Cross and the rest of Sydney.

The spatial analyses showed no pattern of increased drug offences around the MSIC.

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn 0419-494-408
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au