​Crime falling but not in Newcastle and Broken Hill

NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update June 2017

Full report - NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update June 2017 (pdf, 951Kb)

Release date: 10.30am Thursday, 7 September 2017

Crime across most of NSW has remained stable or fallen over the last two years.

The only major exception to this is stealing from a retail store (up 5.4%). The most commonly shoplifted items are liquor, clothing, personal items such as cosmetics, toiletries and razors followed by food (including beverages and confectionary).

Three major offence categories are trending down. They are:

1. break and enter - dwelling (down 4.9%);
2. steal from person (down 12.1%);
3. fraud (down 7.7%).

Although, most categories of crime are stable or falling, a number of enforcement related categories are increasing. They include breach bail conditions (up 7.8%), possess/use cocaine (up 33.7%) and transport regulatory offences (up 15.2%). 

These categories of crime typically show an increase when police step up their enforcement activity.

Regional Trends

Consistent with the State pattern, crime is either stable or in decline across most of regional NSW. 

The NSW region with the most major crimes increasing is the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Statistical Area. 

This region is showing significant increases in four of the 17 major offences: motor vehicle theft (up 15.9%), steal from motor vehicle (up 10.1%), steal from retail store (up 17.8%), and malicious damage to property (up 8.2%). 

Newcastle LGA itself has significant increases in five major offences including sexual assault (up 13.1%) and indecent assault (up 26.9%). 

Broken Hill LGA is also showing significant increases in five of the 17 major offences. The offences increasing are non-domestic assault (up 9.4%), break and enter - dwelling (up 75.9%), break and enter -  non-dwelling (up 72.1%), steal from motor vehicle (up 46.6%) and malicious damage to property (up 36.9%).

Further Enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn (02) 8346 1100
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au