CRIME and drunkenness in the Cairns CBD are on the wane but fear of being attacked in the city has risen, a new report reveals.

Cairns Regional Council data shows that in the past two years assaults in the city have dropped by one-third and that public drunkenness has plummeted by more than half in the same time.

However, the perception of safety in the CBD is at a four-year low.

Cr Alan Blake said more closed circuit cameras and more patrols by security guards were behind the drop in assaults and bad behaviour.

He revealed the number of cameras operating in the CBD would increase by 15 to 74 within the next six months as part of the CBD City Safe program. "While increased foot patrols have helped, the cameras have been particularly useful in identifying trouble makers," he said.

"The more people are aware of the cameras, the less likely they are to act inappropriately."

Cr Blake said upgraded lighting at known trouble spots outside nightclubs was also planned.

"I have met with several nightclub owners and they recognise the problem," he said.

"They are prepared to work with council to lessen even further any danger to late night revellers," he said. Cr Blake said there was still a problem near food vending vans in the early hours of the morning.

"It is where fights often break out," he said.

While the council report shows there has been a definite reduction in crime, an independent survey within it shows that the perception of safety in the CBD is at a four-year low, with only 65 per cent of respondents saying they feel safe at night.

Nearly half of the respondents said there was a need for more CBD police patrols.

Drinking in public remains at "unacceptable" levels with the report showing that in 10 of 12 months in 2007 those incidents had easily outstripped the previous year.

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