NSW crime rates at a record low but police now face the challenge of making people feel safer

NSW has reduced almost all crime rates but the annual stocktake of police performance shows the state is living in fear with half the population reporting they feel in danger on public transport at night and three out of five are afraid of jogging and walking after dark.

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Crime rates are at record lows across the state but police commissioner Mick Fuller said his next challenge is making people feel safer.

The annual stocktake of police performance shows that NSW is a state living in fear with about half of the population reporting they feel in danger on public transport at night and up to three out of five afraid of jogging and walking after dark.

Speeding cars and dangerous drivers on the roads, louts and gangs on the streets and drunken and disorderly behaviour are also making people anxious about where they live.

Speeding cars and dangerous drivers on the roads are making people anxious about where they live. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

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The perception of danger comes despite robberies down from 3767 in 2013-14 to 2473 last financial year and break-ins down from 34,746 over the same period to 27,130.

Stealing from cars was down from 43,255 to 38,309, domestic violence assaults are down from 29,075 to 28,637 and non-domestic violence ­related assaults are at 31,977, down from 32,858.

NSW Police Commissioner Mr Fuller has moved to reassure residents.

“In NSW, particularly through the use of aggressive policing strategies, we are seeing record crime lows,” he said.

“While that should be the job done, the fact is I have a statutory responsibility to make people feel safe, something that is proving to be a challenge with the threat of terrorism and global 24/7 news cycles.”

Three men involved in a vicious brawl on Kippax Street, Surry Hills, about 2:30am on Wednesday. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

The latest police annual ­report reveals that up to 54.7 per cent of people do not feel safe on public transport at night, compared to the nat­ional average of up to 54.4, a figure which has remained stable despite crime plummeting.

According to the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency research, up to 39.8 per cent of people feel ­unsafe walking or jogging at night compared to the national average of up to 42.4 per cent.

The number of people caught drink driving is down to 18,076 from 20,230 and there were 13,697 crashes causing ­injury last year compared to 15,677 in 2013-14.

A serious assault in Newtown in October 2018. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Only sexual assault and fatal car crashes have risen. There were 361 fatalities on the roads last year compared to 320 five years ago.

There were 361 fatalities on the roads last year compared to 320 five years ago and 5.863 compared to 4,942.

At the same time, up to 71.4 per cent people surveyed have concerns about speeding cars or dangerous drivers with the national average being up to 68.6 per cent.

Drunken and disorderly behaviour went up to 39.2 per cent compared to a national average of up to 34.6 per cent.

A man is arrested by police in Kings Cross after he was allegedly trying to start fights with strangers, before being detained by police.

Mr Fuller said increased police numbers from 16,371 five years ago to 16,788 would help people feel safer.

“The growth in NSW police numbers will be central to making people feel safe,” the police commissioner said.

“This along with a key focus on child protection and elder abuse prevention should help me in the journey to making people feel safe,” Mr Fuller said.

Despite their worries, up to 83 per cent of people said they were satisfied with NSW police and up to 86.9 per cent said they had confidence in the police, above the national average of up to 85.7 per cent.