NSW Recorded Crime Statistics September 2015

Full report - NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update September 2015 (PDF, 923.6 KB) (Release date: 10.30am Wednesday, 9 December, 2015

Statewide trends

In the two years to September 2015, one major offence showed a significant upward trend, eight major offences were trending downward and the remaining eight offences were stable. The offence showing an upward trend was steal from retail store, which rose by 5.3 per cent.

The offences trending down were:

• Murder (down 20.0%)
• Non-domestic assault (down 3.7%)
• Robbery without a weapon (down 19.5%);
• Robbery with a firearm (down 26.8%);
• Robbery with a weapon not a firearm (down 19.1%);
• Break and enter dwelling (down 5.4%); 
• Steal from person (down 6.9%); and
• Malicious damage to property (down 7.0%). 

Regional trends: Greater Sydney

Although the pattern in Greater Sydney generally mirrored the state-wide trends, there were some notable exceptions. These included:

• A 29.3 per cent increase in indecent assault, act of indecency and other sexual offences in Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury;
• A 30.8 per cent increase in motor vehicle theft in the Inner West;
• Increases in stealing from a retail store of 20.1 per cent, 23.4 per cent, 26.5 per cent and 47.6 per cent in the Central Coast, Inner West, Outer South West and Sutherland, respectively;
• A 8.5 per cent increase in stealing from person in the South West;
• A 30.5 per cent increase in fraud in the Central Coast; and
• A 20.6 per cent increase in fraud in the Outer West and Blue Mountains.

Regional trends: Outside Greater Sydney

Only five statistical areas in regional NSW experienced upward trends in crime. These were:

• Capital Region (steal from motor vehicle: up 22.3%);
• Coffs Harbour-Grafton (steal from a retail store: up 40.4%);
• Hunter Valley excluding Newcastle (steal from motor vehicle: up 12.8%);
• New England and North West (steal from a retail store: up 24.9%);
• Riverina (motor vehicle theft: up 45.6%)

Statewide trends outside the major 17 categories

Offences involving the use and possession of illegal drugs continue to rise; particularly those involving cocaine and amphetamine-type substances (e.g. methamphetamine). Over the 24 months to September this year there were increases in the recorded frequency of:

• Possession and/or use of cocaine (up 55%)
• Possession and/or use of narcotics (up 6%)
• Possession and/or use of cannabis (up 8%)
• Possession and/or use of amphetamines (up 37%)

There were also increases of 13 per cent in breach bail conditions and 47 per cent in transport regulatory offences. According to the Bureau, these last two offences are likely to reflect increased law enforcement rather than increased crime.

Comments on the findings

Commenting on the findings, Dr Weatherburn said that, while the continuing reduction in non-domestic assault, robbery and break and enter was very encouraging, the continued growth in arrests for use and possession of amphetamines is a matter of concern.

"Over the last five years in NSW the number of first-time arrests for use and/or possession of amphetamines has risen by 60 per cent."

"Every part of the State is affected but some of the biggest increases have occurred in regional NSW, with first-time arrests increasing by more than 70 per cent in the statistical areas of Coffs-Harbour-Grafton; the Shoalhaven; the Far West and Orana; and the Murray."

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn (02) 8346 1100

Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au