Bouncers blamed for 12 per cent of pub assaults

Bouncers are responsible for one in eight assaults at pubs and clubs, according to a crime report released today.The briefing paper blamed security guards and other staff for 12 per cent of assaults in pubs and clubs in the 2007/08 financial year.Patrons of licensed premises were responsible for assaults, with 77 per cent of offenders found to be patrons, evicted patrons or people refused entry.Of 381 police reports analysed, 62 per cent of victims in such assaults were patrons or prospective patrons; 22 per cent were staff or security guards.The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research commissioned the study after releasing its first list of the 100 most violent pubs and clubs in NSW in March 2008. The list included The Harp Hotel, the Glasshouse Tavern, the North Wollongong Hotel, the Ocean Beach Hotel at Shellharbour and the Palm Court Hotel at Corrimal.An updated list released last September included the Towradgi Beach Hotel, the Harp Hotel, Castros, North Wollongong Hotel, Hotel Illawarra, Ivory, Dapto Leagues Club and Shellharbour Workers Club. BOCSAR's briefing paper released today, titled The Nature of Assaults Recorded on Licensed Premises, said the top-100 lists did not give enough detail about the nature and location of the assaults, prompting further research.