Problems with theft from motor vehicles and retail stores
NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update June 2018
Full report: NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update June 2018, pdf 1.2Mb
Embargo: Wednesday, 5 September 2018, 10.30am
Statewide changes
In the 24 months to June 2018, only one of the 17 major offences significantly increased across the State. Three were trending downward and the remaining 13 offences were stable. The offence trending upwards was indecent assault, act of indecency & and other sexual offences (up 7.3%).
The offences trending down were:
- Break and enter dwelling (down 6.5%)
- Break and enter non-dwelling (down 6.2%)
- Malicious damage to property (down 4.7%).
It is worth noting that the break and enter dwelling rate in NSW is now 33 per cent lower than it was 40 years ago (i.e. in 1973/74).
Outside the top 17 categories the only major change was a big growth in arrests for cocaine use/possession (up by 38 per cent). The rate of arrest for cocaine possession/use has risen more than four-fold since 2008.
Local changes
Despite the overall falling levels of crime, a number of LGAs are experiencing problems with theft from motor vehicles and theft from retail stores.
Stealing from a motor vehicle increased in the LGAs of Ballina (up 32.4%); Blacktown (up 11.2%); Coffs Harbour (45.9%); Cumberland (up 19.7%); Federation (up 7.9%); Georges River (up 14.3%); Inverell (up 95.3%); Mid-Coast (up 43.8%); Parramatta (up 13.9%) and Tamworth Regional (up 38%).
Stealing from a retail store increased in the LGAs of Bayside (up 26.9%); Maitland (up 29.4%); Mid-Coast (up 24.9%); Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional (up 73.5%); Shellharbour (up 33%); Shoalhaven (70.8%); Wingecarribee (up 39.3%) and Wollondilly (up 30%).
Coffs Harbour and Inverell experienced a number of problems. Apart from the increase in stealing from a motor vehicle just mentioned, Coffs Harbour experienced significant increases in non-domestic assault (up 25.6%); break and enter dwelling (up 58.5%); motor vehicle theft (up 37.8%); and fraud (up 51.3%).
In addition to experiencing an increase in stealing from a motor vehicle, Inverell also experienced significant increases in break and enter non-dwelling (up 11.8%); motor vehicle theft (up 76.2%); stealing from a dwelling (up 29.3 per) and malicious damage to property (up 25.5%).
Law enforcement activity
The last 24 months have seen a continued increase in law enforcement activity. In the 24 months to June this year the number of persons issued with a No-Bail Court Attendance notice increased by 255 (5.1%). These notices are normally issued when a person breaches their bail conditions.
The number of young people cautioned or referred to a youth justice conference has also increased; in the former case by 6.8 per cent (from 6,962 in the 12 months to June 2017 to 7434 in the 12 months to June 2018), and in the latter case by 43.8 per cent (from 550 in the 12 months to June 2017 to 791 in the 12 months to June 2018).
The number of persons proceeded against to court rose only slightly, from 161,148 in the 12 months to June 2017 to 162,098 in the 12 months to June 2018, an increase of around half of one per cent.
Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn 8346 1100
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au