2024 List: Worst postcodes for youth crime in NSW and greater Sydney revealed
New figures have pinpointed the worst hot spots in NSW for youth crime. Explore the list of which suburbs recording the highest rates of offending.
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Eye-opening crime data has lifted the lid on the worst hot spots in NSW for youth crime with some suburbs recording more than 200 serious offences in the space of just one year.
Assaults, car thefts and home break and enters were among the 11,712 serious offences carried out by young offenders in 2023, according to latest data published by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics (BOCSAR).
On a proportion of population, Bourke had the highest overall number of offences for any postcode in NSW with 90 serious incidents in a town with a population of just 2389 people.
In the greater Sydney region, hotspot suburbs included Bondi Junction, Sydney’s CBD, Mount Druitt, Macquarie Fields, Miranda, Parramatta, Blacktown and Penrith.
The figures come amid increased focus on youth crime and violence including in regional NSW.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley, who was questioned on the growing issue of youth crime at a Parliamentary hearing last week, said she has “not tried to hide the fact that we do have a problem” and is working with NSW Police to ensure front line officers have all available required resources.
The Bureau of Crime Statistics show youth assaults made up more than one-third of the overall number of serious youth offences with 4523 incidents recorded by young people.
There were also large numbers of thefts and break and enter incidents including 1073 cars stolen and 830 home break and enters by young offenders.
Ms Catley police are also working to tackle rising rates of recidivism among young people.
“We have to somehow work on a way, a strategy, to stop kids reoffending,” she said.
“We need to look at diversionary mechanisms (because) the last thing that the police want is young people in jail. I don’t think as a community that’s what we want to see, either.”
Ms Catley said programs by police to address crime rates include a Youth Strategy which includes engaging on proactive measures with youth and stakeholders.
Below is a breakdown of the postcodes with the highest rates of serious crime in 2023 using the most recent data from BOCSAR.
The serious offences used to formulate the data included: homicide, assault, robbery, sexual offences, malicious damage, drug offences, break and enters, stealing offences, car theft, theft from dwelling, theft from person, theft from retail stores and arson.
GREATER SYDNEY
BONDI JUNCTION
Bondi Junction topped the list of city suburbs with the highest youth rate – primarily due to rising numbers of retail theft incidents. Home to 13,509 people, the postcode recorded 124 serious youth crime incidents including 10 assaults, 12 drug offences and 10 robberies. The postcode also had the state’s overall highest number of retail theft incidents by juveniles with 92 incidents recorded in 2023 – up from 66 in the previous 12 month period.
SYDNEY CBD
Sydney’s CBD ranked second on the list with 253 incidents recorded in a postcode home to 27,936 residents. Assaults accounted for the highest number of serious offences by youth (68 incidents) followed by steal from retail offences (67), robberies (44), drug offences (28), and malicious damage.
MOUNT DRUITT
Home to 61,494 people, Mount Druitt had western Sydney’s highest youth crime rate with 233 serious offences recorded over the 12 month period. The suburb recorded the highest number of assaults in NSW involving young offenders with 95 incidents over the 12 month period. The suburb also had 18 robberies, 15 break and enter incidents and 48 malicious damage offences recorded by young offenders.
MACQUARIE FIELDS
The fast-growing suburb of Macquarie Fields had 51 serious youth offences over the 12 month period including 27 assaults and 18 malicious damage incidents. The suburb, which has a population of 14,198, also had six steal from retail offences recorded by young offenders.
MIRANDA
The Miranda postcode of 2228 recorded 71 serious youth crime incidents in 2023 including 14 assaults, and six home break and enters. The figures also included 12 malicious damage incidents and 33 incidents of steal from retail offences.
CHATSWOOD
Chatswood clocked up 80 serious youth crime offences last year, including 44 steal from retail offences – the third highest figure for any postcode in NSW. Other incidents included 17 assaults, 14 drug offences and five robberies. The postcode is home to 27,078 people.
PARRAMATTA
There were 104 serious youth crime incidents recorded in the Parramatta postcode in 2023 including 27 robberies, 26 assaults and 15 drug offences, 11 sexual offences. Other offences recorded in the postcode included eight car thefts and 28 steal from retail offences.
BLACKTOWN
Blacktown was another youth crime hotspot with 180 serious incidents recorded last year. The figures include 70 assaults – the fourth highest overall figures in NSW – along with 25 drug offences and 16 robberies. There were also 14 car thefts – the highest number of incidents recorded by young people in Sydney – eight home break and enters and six steal from person offences.
BROOKVALE
Brookvale recorded 58 youth crime incidents in 2023 including 35 steal from retail offences and eight assaults. The postcode of 21,973 people also had five car thefts and 10 malicious damage offences recorded by young people.
NARELLAN
The southwest Sydney postcode of Narellan had 105 serious youth crime incidents last year including 13 car thefts and nine break and enters from homes. The figures also included 27 assaults, seven drug offences, 19 steal from retail offences and 15 incidents of malicious damage.
PENRITH
The Penrith postcode clocked up 125 serious youth crime incidents last year including 33 assaults and 14 robberies. The figures also included nine car thefts, 17 break and enters, 16 malicious damage incidents and 10 drug offences.
CAMPBELLTOWN
The Macarthur region postcode of 2560 recorded 204 serious offences last year including 92 assaults – an increase from the 80 offences in the previous 12 month period – along with 31 incidents of malicious damage. There were also 15 robberies, eight car thefts and 43 steal from retail offences recorded by young people.
REDFERN
The inner city suburb of Redfern recorded 27 youth offences over the period including 17 assaults. The postcode, which captures 13,072 people, also clocked up five drug offences and five break and enters from homes.
CRONULLA
Cronulla clocked up 62 offences involving young people last year including 14 assaults, 18 drug offences and 14 incidents of malicious damage. The postcode of 30,690 people also recorded nine home break and enters and seven car thefts.
CASTLE HILL
Home to 40,874 people, Castle Hill had 82 serious youth offences recorded over the 12 month period. The offences included 22 drug offences, 18 assaults, 15 malicious damage incidents, 11 steal from retail offences, 11 break and enters (non dwellings) and five robberies.
REGIONAL NSW
BOURKE
Bourke recorded the state’s highest per capita juvenile crime rate with 90 serious incidents of major crime in 2023. The postcode of 2389 residents had 30 break and enter offences, 22 assaults, 19 car thefts, 13 incidents of malicious damage and six drug offences involving youth offenders.
MOREE
Moree ranked second with 216 serious youth offences in a postcode with a population of 9708 people. The figures included 94 car thefts – the highest number in NSW – along with 49 assaults and six incidents of arson. There were also 22 incidents of malicious damage and 14 home break and enters and seven robberies.
WALGETT
Walgett was another youth crime hotspot with 36 serious incidents recorded in 2023. The crime statistics show the offences included 22 assaults and 14 incidents of malicious damage. The postcode has a population of 2149 people.
NEWCASTLE WEST
Newcastle West had 14 serious youth incidents recorded in 2023 in a postcode home to a population of 1411 people. All 14 recorded incidents related to assaults by young offenders.
COONAMBLE
The central west town of Coonamble ranked fourth with 29 serious incidents based on a population of 2965 people. The incidents included 15 assaults, seven break and enters (non dwelling) and seven incidents of malicious damage.
KEMPSEY
Kempsey was another hotspot with 198 serious youth crime incidents last year including 52 home break and enters – the highest number in NSW. There were also 53 assaults, 40 incidents of malicious damage, 20 car thefts, seven drug offences and 10 steal from retail offences.
DUBBO
Dubbo recorded 384 serious youth crime incidents last year, including 86 assaults, 85 car thefts, and 35 home break and enters. There were also eight drug offences, nine robberies, seven steal from retail offences, and 95 incidents of malicious damage recorded in the postcode.
CASINO
Casino also ranked high with 121 serious juvenile crime incidents recorded in 2023. Home to 15,477 people, the number of serious incidents in the postcode included 31 assaults, 12 car thefts, 22 incidents of malicious damage, six sexual offences, and 22 home break and enters.
EVANS HEAD
Evans Head recorded 25 serious youth crime incidents last year, including 10 assaults, five car thefts and 10 robberies.
INVERELL
The Inverell postcode recorded 116 serious incidents from a population of 14,495 people. The incidents included 26 car thefts – up 14 from the previous year – along with 39 assaults, 16 home break and enters and nine drug offences.
GLEN INNES
Glen Innes recorded 39 incidents in 2023. The number of incidents in the postcode, which has a population of 7785 people, included 23 assaults, seven break and enters and nine incidents of malicious damage.
ORANGE
Orange clocked up 240 serious youth crime incidents in 2023 including 70 assaults, 38 incidents of malicious damage, 10 drug offences, 25 home break and enters, and 54 car thefts – the third highest number in NSW. The postcode of 48,283 people also recorded six youth robberies and 21 steal from retail offences.
TAMWORTH
The nation’s country music capital had 257 serious youth offences recorded last year including 82 assaults, 49 malicious damage incidents and 46 car thefts. The crime figures were also 28 home break and enters, 17 drug offences and 12 robberies.
HAMILTON
Hamilton recorded 47 incidents in 2023. The number of incidents in the postcode, which has a population of 9710 people, included 14 assaults, nine home break and enters and five incidents of malicious damage.
RAYMOND TERRACE
Raymond Terrace rounded out the list with 113 serious juvenile crime incidents recorded in 2023. The number of incidents in the postcode included 45 assaults, 14 car thefts, 27 incidents of malicious damage, five sexual offences, and 17 steal from retail offences.
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