NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update March 2015

Full report - NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update March 2015 (PDF, 962.9 KB) 

Release date: 10.30am Tuesday, 2 June 2015       

Statewide trends

In the two years to March 2015, only one major offence showed a significant upward trend, seven were trending downward and the remaining nine major offences were stable. The offence trending up was stealing from a dwelling (up 2.5%)

Most of the increase in steal from dwelling (87%) is due to an increase in offences occurring outside the residential building, including thefts from yards, carports, verandahs and driveways.

The offences trending down were:                                                 

• robbery without a weapon (down 17.6%);
• robbery with a firearm (down 19.5%);
• robbery with a weapon not a firearm (down 15.8%)
• break and enter non-dwelling (down 9.4%); 
• steal from motor vehicle (down 4.6%);
• steal from person (down 12.6%) and
• malicious damage to property (down 10.9%). 
  

Regional trends: Greater Sydney

Although the pattern in Greater Sydney generally mirrored the State-wide trends, there were some notable exceptions. These included a 12.8 per cent increase in fraud in Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury, a 12.7 per cent increase in motor vehicle theft in the Inner South West and a 10 per cent increase in domestic assault on the Central Coast.

Regional trends: Outside Greater Sydney

The most notable problems outside Greater Sydney were a 28.9 per cent increase in break and enter (non-dwelling) and a 23.2 per cent increase in stealing from a motor vehicle, both in the Far West and Orana Statistical Area.

In the Riverina the recorded number of motor vehicle thefts rose 17.1 per cent, while in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven area, the recorded number of break and enter (dwelling) incidents rose by 19.1 per cent.

Statewide trends outside the top 17 categories

The number of arrests for amphetamine-related offences (including methamphetamine or 'ice') has continued to increase.

Over the 24 months to March 2015, the number of arrests for amphetamine possession/use increased by 40.1 per cent. Significant increases were also recorded in cocaine possession/use (up 45.3%), narcotics possession/use (up 17.7%) and cannabis possession/use (up 14.5%).

There are large increases in the recorded rates of amphetamine-related offences in regional NSW as well as in parts of Sydney.

The recorded number of prohibited and regulated weapons offences increased by 8.7 per cent but this increase is likely due to Police Operation Talon, which is focusing on gun crime. 

There has been a 476.9 per cent increase in the recorded number of prostitution offences in NSW, however, this increase appears to be solely due to targeted police activity in the Kings Cross Local Area Command.

Comments on the findings

Commenting on the findings, Dr Weatherburn said that it was reassuring to see that only one of the top 17 offences had increased over the last two years.

"However the continued growth in arrests for use and possession of amphetamines is a matter of concern. Since January 2010, the number of arrests for use and/or possession of amphetamines has risen by more than 200 per cent.

The rise in arrests for amphetamine use is consistent with drug survey data in suggesting a rise in methamphetamine consumption.

National survey data, for example, show that the proportion of people using methamphetamine (ice) daily or weekly had jumped from 9.3% in 2010 to 15.5% in 2013. Seizures have also increased."

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn (02) 8346 1100

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