That being said, the report usefully challenges stereotypes about nightlife’s supposed association with crime, though its conclusions depend on comparisons that obscure the tensions local councils are asked to manage. For example, comparing nightlife hubs with other busy areas, rather than quieter residential streets, is technically sound but also serves a political purpose. It redirects attention from nightlife-linked crime to crowd management – shifting responsibility away from venues. The proposal to use real-time sound monitoring is more promising, potentially moving the spotlight away from anecdote toward hard evidence.