Significant rise in four major criminal offences in NSW since 2019


Release date: Thursday, 13 June 2024

Links to report summary:

Over the five years to March 2024, reported incidents of four major criminal offences increased significantly in NSW: 

  1. Domestic assault reports increased 15.4% (up 3.7% per year on average), rising in 11 of 13 regional NSW locations and seven of 15 Greater Sydney locations. 
  2. Non-domestic assault reports increased 7.8% (up 1.9% per year on average), rising in 12 of 13 regional NSW locations and four of 15 Greater Sydney locations.
  3. Sexual assault reports increased 42.1% (up 9.2% per year on average), rising in 10 of the 13 NSW regional locations and 14 of the 15 Greater Sydney locations. 
  4. Motor Vehicle theft increased 8.5% (up 2.1% per year on average), rising in eight of the 13 regional locations and three of the 15 Greater Sydney locations. 

Executive Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Jackie Fitzgerald, says “Concerningly, of the four major criminal offences categories on the rise, sexual assault has shown the largest increase over the past five years with 42% more incidents reported in the year to March 2024 compared with five years ago in the year to March 2020. The increase is mostly driven by a rise in adult sexual assault victims (up by 62% or 1,606 additional incidents),” Jackie says. “Historical child sexual assault reports also increased by 92% or 1,137 additional incidents.  

“The 15% increase in reports of domestic violence related assaults in NSW is due to an increase in reported family violence, together with an escalation of intimate partner assaults. Non-domestic assaults have increased against adult women and young people. Looking at where these offences are occurring, we’ve seen an increase on residential premises (up 18% or 1,567 additional incidents) and school premises (up 46% or 748 additional incidents).   However, three of the 13 major criminal offences: robbery, stealing from motor vehicles, and malicious damage to property all decreased over the past five years, while the remaining offences remained stable.”

Further enquiries: Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director, BOCSAR  0423 139 687
Email: bcsr@justice.nsw.gov.au
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au  

Last updated:

02 Jul 2024