QLD crime stats: Crime increases by 3.7pc in past year

An increase in crime over the past year in Queensland has been described as “concerning” and “disappointing” as domestic violence reports were one of several categories to see a noticeable spike.

Crime in Queensland has increased 3.7 per cent in the past year which Commissioner Katarina Carroll has described as “concerning”.

But annual figures for 2018-19 show while the number of offences has increased the number of people committing crimes has decreased.

“Any slight increase is a concern for me because it does represent victims in all of these categories,” Ms Carroll said today.

“There’s been a slight increase in offences against the person of 1.2 per cent.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll says there has been an overall increase in crime on last year. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

“I think you have to note there obviously in recent years we have new offences that may increased that as well, such as strangulation, which is an incredibly important introduction of that offence, and some 800 people have been convicted of that offence in recent years.

Ms Carroll said property offences increased 5.3 per cent and “other offences” increased by 2.3 per cent.

This category includes offences such as drugs, prostitution, breaches of domestic violence protection orders, traffic and good order offences.

“While I think there is greater confidence in reporting breaches of domestic violence, there was a considerable increase of 8.3 per cent,” Ms Carroll said.

“At the moment we’re seeing, even in recent weeks, a slight increase in reporting of breaches.

“Domestic violence can be reported very soon, we’re implementing a system on Policelink, that it can be reported online if they have concerns about making phone calls from their own house.

Ms Carroll said police would need to concentrate on people committing multiple crimes.

“What we have clearly found is the cohort of offenders have actually decreased, but the smaller numbers of offenders, there’s a small cohort that are actually committing the offences,” she said.

“And that is the area that we need to concentrate on.

“If you can stop the crime in the first place, if you can prevent it and divert and get people into better education and schools and programs, that actually does decrease the offending.”

According to the statistics released today drug offences have increased 65.2 per cent over the past 10 years, from 991.9 offences per 100,000 people to 1638.8.

Unlawful possession of firearms increased by 14 per cent.

In the last year weapons act offences increased 20 per cent, including a 14 per cent rise in unlawful possession of firearms.

Overall crime rates show the offence rate in Townsville of 14103 offences per 100,000 people in 2018-19 which was similar to that of Brisbane inner city which had 14326.

The rate in Cairns was 13286.1 and Gold Coast was 9986.

The offence rate of unlawful use of motor vehicles, for stealing cars, was 418.4 per 100,000 people in Townsville, which was second only to Logan-Beaudesert which had 461.7.

Dr Terry Goldsworthy says the statistics are “disappointing”. Picture: Richard Gosling

Bond University criminologist and former detective Terry Goldsworthy described the statistics as “another disappointing result as far as the fight against crime goes in Queensland”.

“In broad terms we have seen an overall increase with a particular focus on the rate of property crime rising 3.6 per cent,” Dr Goldsworthy said.

“In addition to rising crime rates we have seen the solving of crime decline over the same period.

“We need to see some clear strategy from the government and the executive of the QPS as to how they are going to address these increases that have been the norm for the last few years.

“Also of particular concern is the lack of transparency in the delay in getting this report into the public domain, nine months after the data period is simply too long and not justifiable. The old statistical review that used to be published by the QPS was available in a much more timely manner.”

Earlier this year Ms Carroll told The Courier-Mail that she planned to ask the State Government for more police after conducting a review of the service.

While she has not committed to a number publicly, the Queensland Police Union says 1650 officers and 350 civilian staff are needed.

LNP Shadow Minister for Police Trevor Watts said the report showed increases in homicides, assaults, robbery, drug offences, unlawful entry, breaches of domestic violence orders and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

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“These damning statistics don’t lie – Labor has lost control of law and order in Queensland and it started the day Annastacia Palaszczuk became Premier,” Mr Watts said.

“Labor is soft on crime and more people are becoming victims of robbery, assault and sexual violence.

Despite the rise in crime Police Minister Mark Ryan said the total number of offenders was continuing to decrease.

“It’s decreased for the third year in a row and is actually the lowest in ten years, the total number of offenders,” he said.

“The challenging part though is there are more offences being committed.

“We have offenders committing more crime, but fewer offenders.”