Domestic violence, sexual assault, and retail theft on the rise in NSW


Release date: 11 June 2025

Link to report summary:

New data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) reveals an upward trend in three major criminal offences over the two years to March 2025.

  • Domestic violence-related assaults increased by 3.6%, with rises recorded in 8 of 13 Regional NSW areas and 3 of 15 Greater Sydney locations.
  • Sexual assault reports rose by 6.4%, driven largely by a 9.8% increase in Greater Sydney, where five areas recorded significant growth.
  • Retail theft incidents climbed by 4.3%, primarily due to a 5.1% rise in Greater Sydney, with notable spikes in Sutherland, the Inner West, and North Sydney & Hornsby.

Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of BOCSAR, highlighted the widespread nature of the domestic violence trend: “Of the three major offences trending upwards, the increase in domestic violence-related assault is the most geographically widespread. Most of Regional NSW and several Sydney locations are showing increases. We’re also seeing sharper rises in family violence (up 7.3%) compared to intimate partner assaults (up 4.9%), along with a 9.5% increase in child victims of domestic assault coming to police attention. It’s possible that greater community awareness and proactive policing are encouraging more victims to come forward.”

Since the introduction of the Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO) in January 2023, online reporting has surged, making up 22.8% of all sexual assault reports in the year to March 2025 and driving 40.5% of the total increase over the past decade. ”These figures highlight the growing willingness of victims to speak out, supported by more accessible and confidential reporting pathways”, Jackie says.

Retail theft was the only property offence to rise over the period, with alcohol remaining the most frequently stolen item. “Liquor continues to top the list of stolen goods,” Fitzgerald said. “In the year to March 2025, it was involved in nearly one in four shoplifting incidents (24%). Clothing and footwear followed at 14%, with personal items such as cosmetics and perfume making up 8% of cases.”

Key findings

Two-year trends in major offences – NSW 

  • Over the 24 months to March 2025, recorded criminal incidents increased for three of the 13 major offence categories: domestic violence-related assault (up 3.6%), sexual assault (up 6.4%) and steal from retail store (up 4.3%).
  • One major offence, steal from motor vehicle, showed a significant decline (down 9.1%).
  • The nine remaining major offences were stable.

Ten-year trends in major offences – NSW 

  • In the ten years to March 2025, five of the 13 major offence categories increased significantly:
    • domestic violence related assault (up 3.0% per year on average),
    • non-domestic violence related assault (up 1.1% per year on average),
    • sexual assault (up 9.2% per year on average),
    • sexual touching and other sexual offences (up 2.4% per year on average), and
    • steal from retail store (up 2.8% per year on average)
  • Six major offences significantly declined: robbery, break & enter dwelling & non-dwelling, steal from motor vehicle, other stealing, and malicious damage.
  • Murder and motor vehicle theft were stable in the ten years to March 2025.

For comment please contact: 

Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research. 

Phone: +61 423 139 687 
Email: jackie.fitzgerald@dcj.nsw.gov.au


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