Hot spot for crime ... Darlinghurst Road in Kings Cross / Pic: Damian Shaw Source: The Daily Telegraph
POLICE Commissioner Andrew Scipione has warned drunken hooligans to get off "the booze" as his officers attend almost three glassing and bottle assault incidents across the state every day.
There were 224 glassings in pubs and clubs across the state last year and a combined 955 incidents in which a glass or bottle was used.
While the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported an 18.18 per cent drop in non-domestic violence glassings, Mr Scipione said one attack was too many.
Last weekend two men were glassed in Port Macquarie and Surry Hills. In 2010, Kings Cross (17), City (11), Surry Hills (8), Tuggerah Lakes (8) and Monaro (7) were the state's glassing hotspots. Almost 100 glassing incidents happened between midnight and 3am.
Mr Scipione, a teetotaller, said using a bottle or glass to assault a pub patron was "abhorrent".
"People get drunk, get into arguments and reach for the first possible weapon at their disposal, often a beer or wine glass, or a bottle," Mr Scipione said.
"People need to start heeding our warnings before writing themselves off and attacking another person. It's no good coming to your senses after you have carried out such a despicable act, it's too late. The damage has been done."
St Vincent's Hospital accident and emergency director Dr Gordian Fulde said glassing had become a scourge, particularly during summer.
"Between midnight to 3am you see the build up to serious violence on the streets," he said.
It has been almost 12 months since 23-year-old Matthew, whose surname has been withheld, was glassed in the face outside the Mean Fiddler pub in Rouse Hill.
Matthew, who has permanent nerve damage, was walking home when he was targeted in an "unprovoked and random" attack by three unknown men.
His father Kevin said the assault did more than physical damage.
"It affected the whole family. From that first phone call when we were told he was in hospital to now, when I genuinely cannot hold a glass of wine without thinking about that night," he said.
An Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing spokesman said they were targeting glassing hotspots including Kings Cross and the city.
Teams of officers are conducting covert operations every weekend.
"These audits, conducted both covertly and overtly, are designed to reduce the risk of intoxication and associated impacts such as alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour," he said.
Since 2008, 48 pubs and hotels have been forced to use plastic instead of glass. A further 105 venues have introduced polycarbonate glasses.
Victims of Crime Assistance League spokesman Howard Brown said "woman-on-woman" glassing incidents had risen in the past 18 months.
"This could sound sexist but there is definitely a greater number of women getting involved in glassing. One of our victims was lucky not to lose her nose - because of the attack she has lost her sense of smell," Mr Brown said.
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