New crime data shows ‘worrying’ divide as one-fifth of Tasmanian offences occur in Launceston

Soaring crime numbers in Launceston have prompted an outcry of frustration and criticism, with some residents afraid to go to work. What police and the government are doing about it.

Coffee Republic owner Robin Smith is calling for a crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour in the Launceston central business district. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

New research shows the gap between crime rates in Launceston and other Tasmanian local government areas is growing.

According to Tasmania Police data, about one-fifth of offences committed in public places in Tasmania occurred in the City of Launceston council region.

A total of 7593 public offences were logged by police in Launceston between August 2023 and July 2024, according to the data, which is tallied on a per-victim, per-incident basis, compared to 4835 offences in Hobart during the same period.

The soaring numbers have prompted an outcry of frustration and criticism, while police say they’re committed to tackling crime in the region.

Coffee Republic owner Robin Smith is calling for a crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in the Launceston central business district.

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Mr Smith said many workers in the CBD felt unsafe because of anti-social behaviour.

“There is a lot of youth crime, shoplifting, fighting, and we have a lot of vehicle break-ins. Launceston has really got to pull its socks up,” Mr Smith said

“We’re starting to get a bit of an unwanted reputation. Launceston is a crime hot spot in the state.”

Tasmania Police Acting Commander Nathan Johnston said crime rates were not necessarily increasing across the board, but the figures did show clear disparities between Launceston and other LGAs.

“Crime rates are often influenced by a small number of repeat offenders, and we are committed to identifying these criminals and holding them accountable,” he said.

Tasmania Police Acting Commander Nathan Johnston. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Acting Commander Johnston said strategies targeting crime included a statewide focus on youth crime, specific task forces to respond quickly to current crime trends and active offenders, increased CBD patrols, more bail and curfew checks, and targeting repeat offenders.

“We don’t want to see crime increasing in Tasmania, but it is important to remember that in a safe place like Tasmania where the crime rate is generally quite low, any rise in occurrences can result in a big percentage increase,” Acting Commander Johnston said.

“Regardless, we respond accordingly to these trends, and we’re doing everything we can to reduce crime in our communities.

“Our community deserves to feel safe, and Tasmania Police is committed to investigating crime and charging offenders.”

Acting Commander Johnston said Tasmanians could implement their own simple crime prevention strategies to keep themselves and their belongings safe.

“Our police will continue to work hard to reduce crime and keep people safe, but Tasmanians can help us by implementing some simple crime prevention strategies,” he said.

“We need people to secure their properties and belongings. Criminals are often opportunistic, which means they will target the ‘easy’ option such as an unlocked home or a business without sufficient security measures.”

Minister for Police, Fire, and Emergency Management Felix Ellis. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Police, Fire, and Emergency Management Minister Felix Ellis acknowledged community concerns about crime but said Tasmania Police was among the most trusted police forces in the country.

“Tasmanians deserve to feel safe, and our police are committed to investigating crime and charging those that feel they’re above the law,” Mr Ellis said.

“The safety that comes with living in Tasmania is one of the many reasons it’s the best place to live, and while the vast majority of us are law-abiding citizens, there is a small number of offenders who choose to do the wrong thing.

“That’s why this government is committed to cracking down on crime by recruiting 60 more police, setting up a permanent Police Strikeforce to target serial criminals, and introducing a new law that makes ‘posting and boasting’ about a crime an aggravating factor in sentencing.”

Originally published as New crime data shows ‘worrying’ divide as one-fifth of Tasmanian offences occur in Launceston