Crime rates slashed on Central Coast
BETTER and smarter policing has seen crime rates slashed on the Central Coast with one major category down as much as 25 per cent.
Central Coast
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BETTER and smarter policing has seen the crime rate slashed on the Central Coast.
Breaking and entering, stealing from vehicles and malicious damage are down significantly across the Coast with all other categories of major crime remaining stable, according to new crime data.
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research’s (BOCSAR) latest quarterly report shows breaking and entering is down 23.6 per cent, stealing from vehicles is down a whopping 25.2 per cent — more than a quarter — and malicious damage to property is down 10.9 per cent in the 24 months to June 2018.
NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman said breaking and entering offences across the state were at 40-year lows.
He said on the Central Coast this was down to “better policing, smarter policing” with the technology in police cars making them effectively “mobile police stations”.
“The proof is in the pudding — the most recent quarterly data from the BOCSAR showing all major crime categories in the Central Coast LGA as stable or falling is testament to the proactive work of local police in detecting and preventing crime,” he said.
Sexual assaults were stable on the Coast but up 7.3 per cent across NSW, with the rise attributed to an increase in reporting thanks to the “me too” movement and the Royal Commission into historical offences.
Mr Speakman said the significant drop in break and enters, stealing from cars and malicious damage on the Coast reflected a proactive approach from police targeting them unlike the rates of sexual assault or domestic violence, which have historically been “grossly under reported”.
The turnaround in these crimes in the past two years is made even more dramatic given break and enters were up 12.6 per cent in the 12 months to December 2016.
Steal from motor vehicles were up an alarming 18.1 per cent and malicious damage up 8.3 per cent in the same period.
Terrigal State Liberal MP Adam Crouch said improved technology such as body and in-car cameras, CCTV and even social media had played a part in the falling crime rates.
He said Brisbane Water police were able to post requests for information on its Facebook page and “people see it and they’re willing to pick up the phone and call Crimestoppers”.
“The fantastic teams at Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes police districts do a remarkable job attending to
incidents, targeting criminals and supporting victims of crime, but they can’t do it alone,” Mr
Crouch said.
“Crime prevention also requires local communities to play a role by reporting crime, working
closely with police, and remaining vigilant.”