WA Police have released crime statistics for the end of 2024, rounding out the year to give a 12-month snapshot of offending across the state.
WAtoday has examined the data and compiled a per capita snapshot of crime in each suburb, giving a fairer picture of which areas of Perth suffer the most issues, while also looking at which sorts of crimes have seen an increase or decrease in the last year.
As expected, the entertainment areas of Perth and Northbridge top the list by far, which could be attributed to the fact that even if their populations are small, they both receive many visitors who don’t all abide by the law.
However, both areas have experienced a decrease in crime over the last year – Perth, in particular, saw a 12 per cent decrease in crimes in 2024, while Northbridge saw a drop of 3 per cent.
They’re the only two suburbs that did see a decrease though, which could be attributed to a higher police presence in our entertainment precincts. The rest of our top 10 list contains the usual contenders, with one surprising newcomer - the south-east suburb of Forrestdale.
Located within the City of Armadale and about 40 kilometres south-east of Perth, Forrestdale has seen a sharp increase in crime over the last year, with a 34 per cent increase in offending from 2023 to 2024.
WA Police on patrol in Perth city.Credit: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images
While the small suburb only has just over 1000 residents, it has earned a place in the top 10 most crime-ridden suburbs in Perth with burglaries, stealings and fraud numbers all having risen in the last 12 months.
Psychologist Donna Stambulich said the rise in crime was most likely linked to the rising cost of living.
“The current economic climate is creating perfect storm conditions,” she said.
“Housing insecurity, inflation, and cost of living pressures are placing unprecedented stress on families and individuals.
“When people feel they’re losing ground economically, we often see increases in both opportunistic crimes and stress-related offences. This highlights the need for broader social policy responses alongside policing approaches.”
Just behind Northbridge and Perth is the eastern suburb of Midland, a low socio-economic area that has always had a tendency for high crime rates.
However, the last 12 months has seen the crime rates there increase by 4.5 per cent, pushing it up the list ahead of the notoriously high ranking Cannington.
“The relationship between crime and socio-economic status is complex but persistent,” Stambulich said.
“Areas with higher economic stress tend to see more crime for several interconnected reasons: reduced access to resources and opportunities, higher population density, and fewer community support systems.
“However, it’s crucial to note that poverty doesn’t cause crime – rather, the structural factors that maintain poverty also create conditions where crime becomes more likely.”
When the suburb of Cockburn Central made our top 10 suburbs with the highest crime rates in 2022, it was sitting in eighth place. Two years later, it has climbed two spots, thanks to a 48 per cent increase in crime in the last year.
Drug offences seem to be the biggest reason the crime rate has increased so much, but across the state sexual abuse and domestic violence statistics are still trending up despite an increased level of attention and resources being put towards these issues.
Stambulich said the rise in statistics was likely, in part, due to better reporting mechanisms, but she says the pandemic’s “aftermath” continues to impact family dynamics.
“While awareness campaigns are vital, they need to be coupled with accessible support services, affordable housing options, and economic stability measures to create meaningful change,” she said.
Some crimes have seen a decrease, including burglary, which is on a major decline across the state and now sits at a 10-year low.
“Modern security technology has significantly changed the risk-reward calculation for these traditional crimes,” Satmbulich said.
“Smart home systems, GPS tracking, and improved vehicle security make these crimes both harder to commit and easier to solve.”
Fraud-related crimes have also decreased by 20 per cent across the state in the last year.
“While improved awareness has helped, I believe the reduction also reflects better security systems by financial institutions and increased digital literacy among the public,” Stambulich said.
“However, we should remain cautious – fraud tends to evolve rapidly, with criminals constantly developing new methods. The current reduction might represent a temporary lull as criminals adapt to improved security measures.”
Stambulich said “concerning” gaps in mental healthcare access had contributed to increased crime is certain parts of Perth.
She said “unprecedented waitlists” had seen some patients waiting up to 12 months to access specialised care.
“While certain types of crime may be decreasing due to technological barriers, we risk missing early intervention opportunities that could prevent other forms of criminal behaviour from developing,” she said.
“This creates a concerning cycle where people who might benefit from early intervention can’t access it, potentially leading to crisis situations that could have been prevented.
“We need to think about crime prevention not just through a law enforcement lens, but through a comprehensive mental health and social support framework.”
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