Rockhampton named as one of the least safe towns in Australia

Rockhampton has been deemed one of the least safe in the country following a recent study. But the region’s mayor says crime and community safety is an issue everywhere. See what the figures say:

Break and enters are one of the most common crimes and can occur at any time during the day or night.

Rockhampton has been deemed one of the least safe towns in Australia following a study of nationwide crime rates.

But Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said it was not right to characterise a whole community on these statistics alone.

“Rockhampton has a lot going for it and we are doing a lot to try and secure a better future for local residents,” he said.

According to the data from AU Crime Rate, sourced from Queensland Police Service statistics, the top three types of crime in the Beef Capital were drug offences, unlawful entry and other theft (excluding unlawful entry).

The other Queensland towns in front of Rockhampton on the list were Townsville and Mount Isa, according to the study by B&D Doors.

The company chose to rank the Beef Capital eighth with a safety score of 5.7, after considering the datasets from crimes against people, property and deception offences, drug, public order and security, and other offences, and workforce in public administration and safety.

Rockhampton had a crime rate of 149 per 1000 residents, with 21 crimes against the person per 1000 residents, and recorded 34 property and deception offences per 1000 residents and 94 drug, public order and security and other offences per 1000 residents.

While this study might have placed the Beef Capital quite low, AU Crime Rate itself states Rockhampton is safer than 23 per cent of all Australian communities and 8 per cent more than other Queensland cities and towns.

It states crime rates in Rockhampton are “quite a bit higher” than the average for Australian urban areas and theft is a common offence.

Cr Williams acknowledged crime and community safety was an issue being felt in many local communities.

“I think it’s important to recognize that this is not solely a Rockhampton issue but a challenge for many communities across the nation,” he said.

“We are seeing governments invest in policing and community safety initiatives and that is a good and positive thing, and I hope that will help us get on top of the issue.”

Cr Williams said he would continue to work with all levels of governments and parties to address the issue but also to ensure that Rockhampton was put front and centre in the discussion around jobs and opportunities going forward.

Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams.

The study determined the safest city in Australia was Mount Barker in South Australia, which received a safety score of 100, with seven of the top 10 safest cities being in Victoria.

According to the Queensland Police Service, break and enter or burglary is one of the most common crimes.

Police encourage people to create good home security making it difficult for an offender to gain entry making it difficult for an offender to exit with your belongings.

People are encouraged to ensure their doors are always locked with a key, even when they are home, to prevent break-ins.

Other measures include making sure all external doors, including internal garage doors, are solid and fitted with quality locks, consider fitting security screen doors that are designed and installed to Australian Standards and always ensuring things such as car and house keys, mobile phones, handbags and wallets are stored out of sight.

QPS also recommend locking away items of value such as bikes, lawn mowers and other garden tools, keeping your garage or shed doors closed and locked with a key, fitting secure window locked, installing an alarm or security camera system and considering installing perimeter security lighting including sensor lights.

More information on how to keep your home secure can be found on the Queensland Police Service website.