Baird's lockout figures wrong: Weatherburn

NSW Premier Mike Baird is using the wrong figures to support his lockout laws, the state's chief crime statistician says.

Dr Don Weatherburn, director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, says Mr Baird is right in saying there has been a decline in the number of assaults across Sydney's CBD.

But he says the laws, imposed in 2014, have simply accelerated a downward trend that began back in 2008.

In a 463-word post on Facebook on Tuesday, Mr Baird wrote that there had been a 60 per cent drop in the number of assaults in the nightclub district of Kings Cross.

However, Dr Weatherburn says Mr Baird's figure only accounts for serious assaults in the area, including those occasioning grievous bodily harm.

He said BOCSAR figures include all assaults and instead reflect a 40 per cent drop in Kings Cross.

"Having said all of that, the laws certainly did accelerate the decline," he said.

Dr Weatherburn said anecdotal evidence that violent revellers are being pushed into Newtown after CBD venues close to entrants at 1.30am, potentially increasing the rate of assaults in the inner west, is incorrect.

"Frankly, that's rubbish. There is no change," he said.

"Newtown gets what everyone gets which is a rise in assaults in summer and a decline in winter."

Dr Weatherburn said there has been no increase in assaults in any area surrounding the lockout zones.

"There is no doubt that Sydney is safer," he said.

"Is it worth the restrictions that are being imposed? That's a citizens' issue. That's for them to decide."