Sexual assaults on the Gold Coast have risen sharply in the past year, and half the attacks have occurred in the so-called Safe Night Precincts in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, a senior Gold Coast policeman says.
The spike in sexual assaults has raised alarm bells for the Gold Coast's most senior policeman, Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd, who is now urging women to stay in groups while out at night.
He said police statistics showed there had been 198 rape and attempted rape cases on the Gold Coast this financial year, compared with 157 cases reported by the same time last year.
Of those, about half of the attacks have occurred in the officially designated Safe Night Precincts — areas intended to reduce alcohol-related violence.
"We have been trying to get an understanding of what we've been dealing with," Assistant Commissioner Codd said.
He said drilling down into the figures revealed sexual assault cases in clubbing areas alone had risen by about 40 percent.
"I can say that we are not necessarily dealing with what we did not long ago with the 'night stalker' — you know, a man randomly going out and finding people in their own homes.
"Increasingly, what we are seeing is that women who are vulnerable, who are perhaps often partially intoxicated, are being preyed upon by people who will sexually offend against them."
What can be done about it?
Assistant Commissioner Codd urged women to stay in groups when they headed out at night.
"Obviously we are keen on finding the offenders, but what we would much rather do is see none being offended against," he said.
"Women have a right to go and freely and safely enjoy themselves, but we can all make decisions that make it more difficult to be preyed upon and I'd ask people to be mindful of that, you know perhaps be in groups.
"The focus should be on offenders, but of course we've got to be realists and there are things people can do to minimise their chance of being vulnerable.
"My main message is to the men, the perpetrators, to understand that impaired consent is no consent."
He said police were working with pubs and clubs in an effort to prevent further attacks.
"We will also talk to some of the licensed premises, who are very much on board," he said.
"They understand that it's not in their interest for this to occur and they [will work] in partnership with us to help prevent, and in the event that these things may occur, help us catch the perpetrator."
'Consent is critical in this'
Kris Saunders from Brisbane-based sexual assault support service Zig Zag said while it would be sensible to stay in a group on a night out, the real behavioural change needed to come from those who assault women.
"It's a sensible thing to look out for your friends, and to say that being in a group can give some sense of safety," she said.
"But it's a little bit like asking the victims to protect each other rather than actually addressing the fact that there's a culture of behaviour that a young woman that goes out and has a few drinks is fair game.
"I think we should not just be focusing on the behaviour change for young women out having a party night, but the perpetrators of sexual assault, the people who think that you don't need to get consent.
"Consent is a really critical issue in this."
