Crime on the rise in Sydney: How does your suburb rate?
Woollahra, Blacktown and Merrylands all top specific crime categories in the latest Bureau of Statistic figures released today. Find out which crimes have increased in your backyard and use our interactive graphic to compare your neighbourhood to other suburbs.
- Eight airline passengers and staff charged with drug trafficking
- Forensic search after ATM and guns pulled from river
Murder, drug use and domestic assault offences have risen across Sydney, according to the latest crime figures released today.
In the 24 months to March 2019, the number of murders in NSW jumped by 39.6 per cent, the number of recorded domestic assaults increased by six per cent and the number of indecent assaults and acts of indecency rose by 5.8 per cent, according to The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.
Under the spotlight are several Sydney suburbs that experienced massive increases in recorded crime.
Of significance is the escalation in property crime — a 57.3 per cent increase in break and enter (non-dwelling) in the Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury area, a 29.9 per cent increase in the Outer West and Blue Mountains region and a 25.1 per cent increase in stealing from a retail store in the Northern Beaches.
Reports of domestic assault increased in a number of areas including the Northern Beaches (up 19. per cent), South West Sydney (up 12.7 per cent), Blacktown (up 10.7 per cent) and the Outer South West (up 7.0 per cent).
A number of areas also reported increases in indecent assault, including Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury (up 44 per cent), Sutherland (up 33 per cent) and Outer South West Sydney (up 21.2 per cent).
Sutherland also experienced significant decreases break and enter of dwellings (down 22.2 per cent), break and enter of non-dwellings (down 32.8 per cent) and stealing from a motor vehicle (down 28.6 per cent).
HOW DOES YOUR SUBURB RATE?
BREAK AND ENTER
Blacktown had the highest number in this category at 1470 offences, which is down 3.4 per cent on last year. Newcastle experienced 954 offences, which was up 5.6 per cent. Narribri had the largest increases, up 103.6 per cent with 114 offences.
ABDUCTION AND KIDNAPPING
Canterbury-Bankstown recorded the most offences with 16, and Blacktown was second place with 11 offences last year.
MURDER
Lake Macquarie was the murder capital of NSW with five offences last year, followed by Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Newcastle, Parramatta and Wollongong who each recorded four murder offences last year. In total there were 74 murders recorded across NSW in the 12 months to March 2019 — up from 53 in the previous year.
BLACKMAIL AND EXTORTION
Canterbury-Bankstown again recorded the highest number of offences in the crime category blackmail and extortion with 13 offences. Blacktown came in second with 10 offences recorded last year.
FRAUD
Sydney city again took the top spot with 1852 offences, down 10.9 per cent on the previous year. Burwood is next 1045, which is down 15.2 per cent on last year. The greatest leap was Narromine with a 108.7 per cent increase in fraud with 48 cases recorded.
DEALING, TRAFFICKING IN COCAINE
Woollahra is the coke capital of Sydney with a 218.8 per cent increase in this category, with 174 offences recorded. Sydney city comes in second with a 36.2 per cent increase last year at 118 offences and Waverley came in third with an 88.9 per cent increase at 69 offences.
DEALING, TRAFFICKING IN ECSTASY
Sydney city is number one for ecstasy with 77 offences, followed by Byron Bay with 35 offences. Paramatta rose 30.5 per cent in this category last year, with 23 offences recorded.
INDECENT ASSAULT, ACT OF INDECENCY AND OTHER SEXUAL OFFENCES
Sydney city had the highest number of offences recorded at 457 offences, followed by the Blacktown at 411 cases, an increase of 12.6 per cent on last year. Wollondily recorded the highest increase in this category last year, up 113.6 per cent with 47 offences recorded.
ATTEMPTED MURDER
The Cumberland area — Merrylands, Lidcombe and Greystanes recorded the highest number of attempted murder offences in Sydney last year at three offences, which is down from two last year. The Central Coast came in second with two attempted murder offences recorded.
PORNOGRAPHY OFFENCES
Walcha in the state’s north recorded the highest number of offences at 63 cases, followed by Coolamon in southwest NSW. Blacktown recorded the highest increase in porn offences, up 14.8 per cent with 11 cases.
ARSON
With 204 offences, the Central Coast is literally a hotspot of crime, with the highest number of arson offences recorded, although this was down 19.8 per cent from the previous year. Blacktown cames in with the second highest number of arson offences last year, with 204 offences recorded, also a decrease of 7.7 per cent on last year.
BETTING AND GAMING
Wagga Wagga was the capital of betting and gaming offences, with 32 crimes recorded last year. Sydney city came in second spot with 19 offences recorded.
MANUFACTURE OF DRUGS
Canterbury-Bankstown recorded the highest number of offences at 7, followed closely by Fairfield and Liverpool with five offences.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED ASSAULT
Blacktown has the highest number in this crime category at 2224 offences, followed by the Central Coast recorded 1680 offences. The Upper Hunter Shire recorded an 87.1 per cent increase in this category with 58 offences.
The NSW Police Force said the recent figures released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show that in most categories — including robbery, break and enter, stealing, and fraud — crime is reported as being either being stable or reducing.
In a statement released today, police said some offences, such as drug and weapon offences, sexual offences and domestic-violence assaults, have increased; and this could largely be attributed to proactive policing efforts and increased reporting.
“Reports of murder have significantly increased compared with statistics from 2018, with a large amount of these deaths considered to be domestic-violence related; however, when comparing murder rates over the past 10 years, this year’s figure is below average.”
NSW Police Force corporate spokesperson for domestic and family violence Assistant Commissioner Mark Jones said police would continue to work hard to combat domestic violence and it considered that even one murder was one too many.
“Domestic and family violence is one of the most challenging crimes facing police and we are focusing our resources to target this specific area,” Mr Jones said.
“With this report, we have noted that domestic violence murder matters involving non-intimate relationships have increased more so than those in intimate relationships. These relationships include relatives, carers and those who reside together.”
While police will continue to concentrate heavily on reducing domestic violence, Mr Jones emphasised the need for a whole-of-community approach to breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
“In recent years, police have launched several public awareness and information campaigns; including You make the call — we will make it stop, No innocent bystanders, Not your fault, and Accountability starts with you,” said Mr Jones.
“In the majority of these domestic-related murders reported over the past 12 months, there have been no previous domestic violence offences reported prior to the deaths.
“These initiatives only work with a steady supply of information from the community. We all have a responsibility to report any suspected domestic violence incidents,” Mr Jones said.
Minns to be hit by Clubs over extra tax
Clubs across the state are preparing for a showdown with the Minns government amid ongoing talk Treasury officials are looking at forcing some of the largest venues to pay extra tax.
‘Australians think we are mean’: Senior Liberal’s blistering election assessment
One of the most senior women in the Coalition has issued a blistering assessment of the party’s current state and fired a broadside at two former leaders over their comments about multiculturalism.