ABS National Recorded Crime Statistics - 2000 (BCSR Commentary)

Release date:  30 May 2001

The national crime statistics released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal that the problem of rising crime presently being experienced by New South Wales is also being experienced by the rest of the country.

According to the ABS, between 1999 and 2000, New South Wales recorded increases in assault (7%), robbery (5%), unlawful entry with intent (i.e. burglary) (5%), motor vehicle theft (7%), general theft (15%) and sexual assault (34%).

Many of these offences are increasing in other States and Territories as well. Increases in unlawful entry with intent were also recorded by Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT.

Increases in motor vehicle theft were recorded in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Increases in general theft offences were recorded in all States and Territories other than Tasmania.

Increases in assault were recorded in South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT. Increases in sexual assault were recorded in Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT.

According to the Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Dr Don Weatherburn, the ABS figures suggest that poor policing is not the reason for the recent growth in crime in New South Wales.

‘That explanation would only make sense if we assumed that the performance of all Australian State and Territory police services deteriorated over the last two years’, he said.

Dr Weatherburn attributed the large growth in the recorded rate of sexual offences in New South Wales to better policing rather than increased crime.

‘Our figures indicate that a lot of the growth in sexual offences in New South Wales has come from increased reports of sexual assault involving children under the age of fourteen and, in particular, children under the age of nine’.

‘The detection and prosecution of these offences has greatly improved in New South Wales since the establishment of the joint child protection investigation (CPIT) teams in the wake of the Wood Royal Commission’.

The reports’ main findings are available on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ web site.

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn (02) 9231 9190 (wk) / 0419 494 408 (mob)