Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research > Publications & Evaluations
BB147

Author Min-Taec Kim and Felix Leung
Published June 2020
Report Type Bureau Brief No. 147
Subject Assault; Robbery; Sexual assault and violence; Socioeconomic factors and crime; Theft / Property crime; Crime statistics
Keywords COVID-19, Coronavirus, social distancing, social isolation, crime trends

Summary

Background

A global pandemic was declared on 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organization in response to the spread of COVID-19. In Australia, State and Commonwealth governments imposed significant social restrictions to reduce the transmission of the virus.

The aim of this brief is to examine changes in crime in New South Wales, Australia, in the 6-week period (15 March – 26 April, 2020) following the introduction of social distancing measures. We compare the level of crime observed during this period with the level expected based on forecast models using historical observations.

Key findings

Changes in number of police recorded incidents
Changes in number of police recorded incidents
Examining the number of incidents in April 2020, we found that:
- Non-domestic violence related assaults were 39% lower than expected. Domestic violence related assaults were consistent with expectations.
- Sexual offences were 32% lower and robberies 42% lower than expected.
- Various property offences were lower than expected: residential break-ins (down 29%), non-residential break-ins (down 25%), vehicle theft (down 24%), stealing from a vehicle (down 34%) and retail theft (down 55%).
- Drug possession and dealing incidents remained stable in aggregate. But cocaine possession incidents were 40% lower than expected while amphetamine possession incidents were 30% higher than expected.
- Breaches of Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) and bail conditions remained stable, despite an 85% increase in AVO compliance checks and a 13% increase in bail compliance checks.

Conclusion

Since the start of the COVID-19 containment measures, there have been sharp falls in non-domestic related assault, sexual offences, robbery, break and enter (dwelling and non-dwelling), vehicle theft, stealing from vehicles and stealing from retail premises. It is important to note, however, that this study examines criminal incidents detected by, or reported to, police and findings may not reflect trends in unreported offences.