Summary
Aim
This paper, examines recent trends in Cabramatta in (1) recorded crime, (2) formal charging of alleged offenders, and (3) the application of search and move-on powers by police.
Abstract
Over the 24 months to December 2001, trends in recorded crime in Cabramatta for all major violent and property offence categories were either downward or stable. Most notably, motor vehicle theft offences decreased by 37 per cent between 2000 and 2001, and steal from motor vehicle offences decreased by 25 per cent over the same period. Also significant were the decreases in robbery offences: unarmed robberies decreased by 5 per cent, while robberies with a non-firearm weapon decreased by 7 per cent. Consistent with the drop in crime, there was a downward trend in the total number of offenders proceeded against to court for offences committed in Cabramatta between January 2000 and December 2001. Other forms of police activity in the area, however, have increased. Since July 2001, there was a substantial increase in the number of knife searches performed, and in the number of move-on directions issued by police in Cabramatta.