NSW Recorded Crime Statistics: Sep 2014 quarterly report

 

Media release: NSW Recorded Crime Statistics: Sep 2014 quarterly report (pdf 924Kb)

Release date: Wednesday, 3 December, 2014   10.30am

Statewide trends

In the 24 months to September 2014, none of the major offence categories showed a significant upward trend across the state as a whole. 

Ten of the major offences showed significant downward trends:

  1. non-domestic assault (down 8.1%);
  2. robbery without a weapon (down 20.4%);
  3. robbery with a non-firearm weapon (down 9.7%);
  4. break and enter dwelling (down 8.7%);
  5. break and enter non-dwelling (down 16.4%);
  6. motor vehicle theft (down 12.4%);
  7. steal from motor vehicle (down 7.5%);
  8. stealing from a retail store (down 9.1%);
  9. steal from person (down 15.9%); and
  10. malicious damage to property (down 12.4%).

The remaining seven offences were stable.

Statewide trends outside the top 17 categories

There were two notable trends outside the top 17 categories.

The first was a fall in shooting offences (down 23.6% for unlawfully discharge firearm; down 35.7% for shoot with intent other than to murder).

The second was a rise in arrests for drug offences (up 25.9% for possession/use of amphetamines; up 12.7 per cent increase in possession/use of cannabis).

Increases were also recorded in prohibited and regulated weapons; prostitution and transport regulatory offences but these may reflect more intensive law enforcement rather than increased crime.

Regional trends: Greater Sydney

Although there were no state-wide increases in the top 17 offence categories, increases in some offences were recorded in some statistical areas within Greater Sydney.

These were:

  • an 13.2 per cent increase in break and enter (non-dwelling) in Blacktown;
  • an eight per cent increase in stealing from a retail store and a 23.9 per cent increase in stealing from a dwelling in North Sydney and Hornsby;
  • a 17.8 per cent increase in stealing from a motor vehicle in the Outer West/Blue Mountains;
  • a 17.5 per cent increase in stealing from a dwelling in Parramatta; and
  • an increase in break and enter dwelling (up 17.4%) and stealing from a dwelling (up 33.3%) in Ryde.

Widespread reductions in crime occurred in two areas of Greater Sydney. The Central Coast and the City and Inner South both recorded significant decreases in crime in at least seven out of the 17 major offence categories.

Regional trends: Outside Greater Sydney

In regional NSW, the overall pattern was better than in Sydney with only one area showing an increase in crime. The Central West recorded a 9.6 per cent increase in steal from a motor vehicle and a 21.1 per cent increase in fraud.

Although only one area in regional NSW showed an increase in crime, it should be noted that rates of crime remain much higher in the Far West and Orana than elsewhere throughout the State. Eight out of the 17 major offence categories in that statistical area have crime rates that are more than twice the State rate.

Comments on the findings

Commenting on the findings, Dr Weatherburn said that it was reassuring to see that once again none of the top 17 offences had increased.

'However the continued growth in arrests for use and possession of amphetamines is a matter of concern. The rise in arrests for amphetamine use is consistent with drug survey data in suggesting a rise in methamphetamine consumption.

National survey data, for example, show that the proportion of people using methamphetamine (ice) daily or weekly had jumped from 9.3% in 2010 to 15.5% in 2013. Seizures have also increased.'

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn (02) 9231-9190
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au