Late-night punch-ons are not new, but there was something about this week that made us feel more uneasy.

Perhaps it's part of the ripple effect that's shuddering the world over.

The front page of Friday's The Examiner told of a daylight attack from one stranger to another.

It is scary when crime we associate with big cities comes to Launceston.

Just about every young person I know - and some of the older ones - have a story about a weekend attack that happened to a friend of a friend.

The evidence is there the morning after - the shards of smashed windows laying in the gutter, letterboxes crumpled by a downward fist.

Two weeks ago I saw my first public fight in a long time.

It was a Friday - still early - and there they were, having a good ol' roll around on the pavement.

The scene was complete with broken beer bottles and shrieking female onlookers.

Before that, I would struggle to remember the last fight I saw in Launceston's public, which is a good thing.

I live in the central business district, frequently step out after dark of a weekend, and walk just about everywhere.

Never have I felt threatened or uncomfortable.

But I know there are people - men and women - who do.

That feeling will only have been exacerbated by the news of this random attack.

It's important to remember that this was an isolated incident - Launceston is a long way away from unsafe streets and catching cabs three blocks.

But it's equally important to acknowledge that violence does happen on our city streets, and it does happen on the weekends, and it can be fuelled by booze and harder substances.

There seems to be two extremes when considering this sort of street thuggery in Launceston.

One camp says that Launceston is overrun with violence, unsafe behaviour and it's all just just one step away from open anarchy.

The other camp lives under a rug and is convinced that the city has no problems with substance abuse or violent behaviour.

In reality, we're somewhere in the middle.

Depending on which authority you talk to, our emergency departments and lock-ups are overflowing with people suffering from the after-effects of drugs, particularly alcohol and ice.

Other authorities - and even the same ones, but only publicly - say the situation is overblown and overhyped by the media looking for a sensational story on a slow news day.

This secret squirrel situation creates an environment where no one knows what way is up, let alone how to move forward.

In order to address the city's issues with violent behaviour, if we indeed have any, is to fully lay all the facts and figures out on the table.

How many emergency department admissions are the result of substance abuse? Meaning the users themselves, and potential victims.

How many people arrested for violent behaviour are affected by drugs or alcohol at the time?

How many street fights do police break-up or investigate on a weekend?

The people of Launceston deserve to know the answers to these questions.

The community deserves to be able to walk the streets during the day and night without fear of being attacked.

And the people who are doing the attacking deserve to have the issues that are causing this behaviour acknowledged and treated.