NSW Recorded Crime Statistics 2007

Click here (PDF, 1.4 MB) for the full report 

Release date: 15 April 2008

Figures released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show that, apart from a 6.6 per cent increase in stealing from a motor vehicle, the major categories of crime across NSW either fell or remained stable over the 24 months to December 2007.

Over the 24 months to December 2007, the recorded incidence of:

The remaining 13 major categories of crime ( murder, domestic assault, non-domestic assault, sexual assault, indecent assault, robbery without a weapon, robbery with a firearm, break and enter (dwelling), steal from retail store, steal from a dwelling, steal from person, fraud and malicious damage to property) remained stable.

The regional picture generally mirrored the State picture across the 154 LGAs, with 95 per cent of all trend tests showing either stable or falling crime in each of the 17 major categories. There were a few areas, however, where the regional pattern bucked the trend for the State as a whole.

The offence of stealing from a motor vehicle rose 16 per cent in Inner Sydney Statistical Subdivision, 19 per cent in St George Sutherland Statistical Subdivision, 11 per cent in Fairfield-Liverpool Statistical Subdivision, 57 per cent in Inner Western Sydney Statistical Subdivision, 17 per cent in Central Western Sydney Statistical Subdivision, 39 per cent in Lower Northern Sydney Statistical Subdivision and 18 per cent in Central Northern Sydney Statistical Subdivision.

The two other noteworthy increases in crime across the State were a 59 per cent increase in robbery without a weapon in the Central West Statistical Division (up from 32 offences in 2006 to 51 offences in 2007) and a 14 per cent increase in motor vehicle theft in the South Eastern Statistical Division (up from 417 offences in 2006 to 476 offences in 2007).

The most notable State-wide changes outside the Bureau's 17 major categories were a 7.5 per cent increase in offences in the category harassment, threatening behaviour and private nuisance (mostly domestic violence related) and a 31 per cent increase in recorded cases of use/possess narcotics.

According to the Bureau, the jump in arrests for use/possess narcotics is due to the fact that the drug has become more widely available over the last two years, particularly in the Inner Sydney Statistical Subdivision. Arrests for use/possess narcotics, however, remain much lower than they were prior to the heroin shortage in 2000.

Increases were also recorded in the categories of offensive conduct (up 18 per cent), liquor offences (up 17 per cent), pornography offences (up 47 per cent), breach bail conditions (up 23 per cent and fail to appear [in court] (up 21 per cent) but the Bureau cautioned that these changes probably reflect increased law enforcement activity, rather than an increased crime.

Commenting on the long-term trends, the director of the Bureau, Dr Don Weatherburn, said that the overall rate of serious property crime in NSW is now lower than it has been for more than a decade.

"The same can't be said, unfortunately, for offences such as assault. This offence has been stable for the past few years but the prevalence of assault in NSW is nearly double what it just over a decade ago".

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn 9231-9190(w) 0419-494-408 (mob) www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/bocsar
 
Link to:

• Full NSW Recorded Crime Statistics 2007 report (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• An update of long-term trends in property and violent crime in New South Wales: 1990-2007 (PDF, 330.7 KB) 
• Did the prevalence of assault in NSW increase between 2006 and 2007? (PDF, 275.2 KB) 
• The problem of steal from motor vehicle in New South Wales (PDF, 350.0 KB)