NSW Recorded Crime Statistics 2015

Full repport: NSW Recorded Crime Statistics 2015 (PDF, 1.2 MB)

Embargo: 10.30AM, Wednesday 20 April 2016

Statewide trends

In the 24 months to December 2015, one of the 17 major offences showed a significant upward trend across NSW, seven were trending downward and the remaining nine offences were stable. The offence trending upward was steal from retail store (up 6.7%)

The offences trending down were:
1. robbery without a weapon (down 19.3%);
2. robbery with a firearm (down 41.8%);
3. robbery with a weapon not a firearm (down 20.7%);
4. break and enter dwelling (down 7.1%);
5. break and enter non-dwelling (down 7.1%);
6. motor vehicle theft (down 5.5%); 
7. steal from motor vehicle (down 6.6%).

Regional trends: Greater Sydney

Across Greater Sydney there were 10 significant increases in crime and 38 significant decreases. The offences showing the largest decreases included robbery without a weapon; break and enter dwelling; stealing from a motor vehicle and malicious damage to property.

The biggest improvements were in Parramatta and North Sydney and Hornsby, in each of which five out of the 17 major categories of crime declined. 

The offence presenting the most problems in Greater Sydney was stealing from a retail store, which rose in the Central Coast (up 25.7%), Outer South West (up 29.5%), Outer West and Blue Mountains (up 19%) and Sutherland (up 43.6%).

Regional trends: Outside Greater Sydney

The overall picture was less encouraging outside Greater Sydney. The Hunter Valley (excluding Newcastle) recorded a 12.4 per cent increase in domestic assault, a 47.8 per cent increase in robbery without a weapon, a 25.9 per cent increase in break and enter (non-dwelling) and a 6.6 per cent increase in stealing from a motor vehicle.

Substantial increases in crime were also recorded in: 

• Capital Region (stealing from a motor vehicle up 26.1%);
• Coffs Harbour-Grafton (break and enter dwelling up 22%; stealing from a retail store up 40.2%);
• Mid North Coast (indecent assault and related offences up 24%; fraud up 26.1 per cent);
• Murray (fraud up 51%);
• Riverina (domestic assault up 13.2%; motor vehicle theft up 48%);
• Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven (indecent assault and related offences up 29.5%). 

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