Incidents of break and enter – non-dwelling have climbed by 25 per cent in the Narromine local government area (LGA), which sits at more than five times the state average for the crime.
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Police recorded 55 break and enter – non-dwelling incidents in the 12 months to March 2017, up from just 44 the previous year.
The figures have been released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) as part of its quarterly report, which showed offences in all major crime categories remained steady across NSW.
While there were too few incidents for BOSCAR to calculate a 12-month trend, incidents of indecent assault, act of indecency and other sexual offences doubled from six in the year to March 2016, to 12 in the year to March 2017. Sexual assault rose 160 per cent, from five incidents to 13.
But assault rates fell, with non-domestic violence related incidents falling 23.9 per cent, while domestic violence related assaults fell 21.1 per cent.
Meanwhile incident rates (calculated per 100,000 people) were more than twice the state average for eight of the 17 major crime categories in the year to March 2017: break and enter – non-dwelling (5.4 times the NSW rate); break and enter – dwelling (3.5); motor vehicle theft (3.1); steal from dwelling (2.9); sexual assault (2.8); steal from person (2.6); malicious damage to property (2.1); steal from motor vehicle (2.0).
Dubbo saw a 33.5 per cent rise in steal from dwelling incidents, motor vehicle theft increased by 32.6 per cent and break and enter – dwelling incidents soared to four times the NSW average.
The Far West and Orana experienced significant 24-month increases in three major property offences: break and enter – dwelling (up 18.8 per cent), motor vehicle theft (up 28.1% per cent) and steal from retail store (up 28.0 per cent).
Statewide, steal from a person (down 15.9 per cent), robbery with a weapon not a firearm (down 10.9 per cent), break and enter dwelling (down 5.9 per cent), and fraud (down 4.3 per cent) have all fallen.
It was reassuring that no major offences were trending upwards at state level, BOCSAR deputy director Jackie Fitzgerald said, but regional crime problems should not be overlooked.
“The growth in crimes in the West and North West of NSW is particularly concerning because the crime rates in these areas are already more than twice, and in some cases more than three times the state average,” she said.
Police Minister and Dubbo MP Troy Grant congratulated NSW Police on the state results, but said “it is clear more needs to be done in some regional areas”.
“This is an incredible outcome, and a testament to the extraordinary work of our police officers, who continue to lead the nation in investigating crime and ensuring perpetrators are held to account,” Mr Grant said.
“I am committed to working closely with Commissioner Fuller and Deputy Commissioner Worboys to ensure our regional police are properly supported to prevent and disrupt crime in the country.”
