The consequences of queueing: Crowding, situational features and aggression in entertainment precincts

Alcohol-related violence has long been regarded a serious social problem in Australia. Extensive research has been conducted analysing the relationship between alcohol, crowding and aggression inside licensed premises, consistently finding that situational and social factors play significant roles. However, there has been a dearth of empirical research into these relationships in the public space outside licensed premises and around transport nodes. This study provides such an analysis. A systematic observational measurement was employed on six street segments in the Valley Entertainment Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland that recorded aspects of the physical and social environment, levels of intoxication, street population, queueing practices, crowding and aggression. Over 96 hours of observation, 42 acts of high-level and 94 acts of low-level aggression were witnessed, a far higher rate than previous studies. The relationships between levels of crowding and aggression were observed, even after controlling for major correlates. The results of the study strengthen arguments about the need to consider crowding and queue management issues as well as the design of public spaces in entertainment precincts to reduce aggression.Arts, Education & Law Group, School of Criminology and Criminal JusticeFull Tex