Though they can be used in any number of new and creative ways, statistics don’t tell tall tales. Shading and bending come into play only when people try and explain what they mean.

In Winston-Salem, discussions about crime statistics, calls for police service — and associated costs for same — usually only crop up during budget season or when one place or another makes headlines for the wrong reasons. Public nuisance is the preferred term, and city officials have it within their power to condemn and close down such places.

In recent years, discussions about public nuisances have involved the old Royal Inn on Broad Street and a problematic night spot in the 500 block of North Cherry Street called the Nova Lounge.

City officials forced the closure of the former in 2015 and the owners of the building housing the latter decided in April to close after seven people were shot in the vicinity. The suspension of club’s alcohol permit didn’t help.

Still, mere mention of the “public nuisance” option prompted conversations and one salient question: What locations command the most attention from police?