NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update June 2015

Full report - NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update Jun 2015 (PDF, 906.2 KB) 

Release date: 10.30am Thursday, 3 September, 2015

Statewide trends

In the two years to June 2015, no major offences showed a significant upward trend, six were trending downward and the remaining 11 offences were stable.

The offences trending down were:

• robbery without a weapon (down 13.8%);
• robbery with a firearm (down 13.8%);
• robbery with a weapon not a firearm (down 19.4%);
• break and enter dwelling (down 5.8%);
• steal from person (down 9.8%); and
• malicious damage to property (down 8.7%).

Regional trends: Greater Sydney

Although the pattern in Greater Sydney generally mirrored the State-wide trends, there were some notable exceptions. These included:

• A 32.4 per cent increase in break and enter (non-dwelling) in the Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury statistical area;
• Increases in motor vehicle theft of 14.9 per cent and 19.8 per cent, respectively, in the Inner South West and Inner West statistical areas; and
• Increases in stealing from retail store in four statistical areas: City and Inner South (up 10.1%), Inner West (up 20.3%), Outer South West (up 35.7%) and Sutherland (up 17.8%).

Regional trends: Outside Greater Sydney

Only four statistical areas in regional NSW experienced upward trends in crime. These were:

• Murray (indecent assault up 35.6%);
• Far West and Orana (break and enter non-dwelling up 40.2%; fraud up 39.1%);
• Coffs Harbour-Grafton (steal from a retail store up 24.5%); and
• Riverina (motor vehicle theft up 34.4%).

Statewide trends outside the top 17 categories

Offences involving the use and possession of illegal drugs continue to rise; particularly those involving cocaine and amphetamine-type substances (e.g. methamphetamine). Over the 24 months to June this year there were increases in the recorded frequency of:

• Possession and/or use of cocaine (up 47.2%)
• Possession and/or use of narcotics (up 10.1%)
• Possession and/or use of cannabis (up 7.4%)
• Possession and/or use of amphetamines (up 38.1%)

Comments on the findings

Commenting on the findings, Dr Weatherburn said that, while the continuing reduction in property crime was very encouraging, the continued growth in arrests for use and possession of amphetamines is a matter of concern.

"The recorded incidence of use/possess amphetamines in NSW has been rising at nearly 30 per cent per year since the financial year 2009/10."

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn (02) 8346 1100

Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au