Impact of Obs liquor spots on crime

By: Anine Kriegler, Obs resident and researcher at the Centre of Criminology, UCT

Obsid approached the Knowledge Co-Op at UCT to compile a report to help assess, conceptualise and advocate around the possible impact of the area's alcohol outlet density (AOD) on crime.

Here are some of the results.

According to the Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA), Observatory hosts 53 of the 4012 currently valid liquor licences in the Cape Town metropole.

This equates to a density of 5.76 licensed outlets per 1000 residents (five times the city average) or 17 outlets per km squared (10 times the city average).

A strong cultural reaction against earlier temperance movements has made consideration of some of the social implications of alcohol availability seem stuffy and old-fashioned.

But although it is certainly not the only (or likely even the strongest) determinant, a large body of international research suggests that there is a relationship on a local level between alcohol availability and various types of community harm, including crime.

Whatever the benefits, they may enjoy from hosting alcohol outlets, communities are also required to carry an associated burden of crime.

It isn't possible to isolate crime stats for Observatory alone or to determine the extent to which alcohol is responsible for levels of crime.

The Woodstock police area does clearly record high levels of crime compared to the city average and to similar precincts.

Reducing the harms around alcohol is one of the seven key ＆game changers' to be targeted in the province.

Especially through the Alcohol-Related Harms Reduction Green Paper. Executive responsibility for the WCLA has already been transferred from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to the Department of Community Safety.

A lot more space is being created for communities to have a say in their local liquor licensing and enforcement processes.

Get involved by offering your time and expertise to the Obsid public safety committee or social issues committee ops manager@obsid.org.za.

The Observatory Civic Association carolyn@neville.za.net. The Observatory Neighbourhood Watch FSchuitemaker@gmail.com. Or the Woodstock Community Police Forum porter.mobile@gmail.com.