Hindley St McDonalds in Adelaide is taking precautions after multiple incidents

A McDonald’s restaurant on a busy entertainment street has ‘finally’ taken extra precautions to ensure the safety of customers and staff after several ‘vicious and abusive’ incidents.

SafeWork SA commissioned the fast food company to install safety screens at its Hindley St store in Adelaide’s CBD, which is open 24 hours a day.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) Josh Peak welcomed the upgrade on Thursday, describing the McDonald’s on Hindley as “clearly the most unsafe establishment.”

“Customers were allowed to walk behind the counter unrestricted, products were thrown at workers, workers were spat on,” Peak told reporters.

“We know that the employees in the store feel safer now because they are safer.

The McDonald’s is a popular spot for revelers after a night out in the Adelaide CBD

“Employees no longer have to worry about products being thrown at them, they no longer have to worry about being spat on, they no longer have to worry about people coming behind the counter and visibly threatening them or mistreat.”

He said the union has been campaigning for years to tell customers it’s important to do the right thing.

“But it’s so hard to control customer behavior at 2 a.m. on a Sunday morning, which is why these physical barriers are so important,” he said.

‘We are very happy that physical measures have now been taken.’

He said the physical shields were the best solution to stop violent incidents because they physically prevent people from “crossing the border.”

But he was critical of the decision to remove guards.

McDonald’s removed their guards – they’ve decided to take that protection away. Guards are not the answer to everything,” he said.

“Sometimes guards can’t intervene, but they’re a good deterrent.”

Nooria Halake, 19, was reportedly filmed yelling at staff behind the counter before walking into the kitchen and helping herself to food

South Australia Police say the woman damaged a door and threw a bottle of water at staff

He said the location had also become one of the first franchises to install duress alarms.

The move comes after a series of incidents at the store, including two involving two young women who are now going through court.

In October 2022, Mia Miller, who had just turned 18, was filmed throwing food and allegedly spitting on Hindley Street Maccas staff after a night out.

She was before the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with disorderly conduct, assaulting a worker and spitting.

Last December, just a few months later, 19-year-old Nooria Halake was reportedly filmed yelling at staff behind the counter before walking into the kitchen and helping herself to food.

Both women will appear in court again in the coming months.