Revealed: Coast has highest murder rate in greater Sydney
WELCOME to the Central Coast — the murder capital of greater Sydney — where five people lost their lives in violent crimes in the space of nine months over the past year.
Central Coast
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WELCOME to the Central Coast — the murder capital of greater Sydney.
But it is not all bad news; rates for breaking and entering, shoplifting and malicious damage are down over the past 12 months.
The latest quarterly crime data paints a grim picture for the region, which following an unusual number of murders, has recorded the highest rate of killings per 100,000 population in greater Sydney.
Figures released today by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show there were five people murdered on the Coast in the 12 months to September.
This was equal to the number of killings in the Blacktown Local Government Area in the same period and three fewer than the eight people murdered in the Inner South West.
However BOCSAR data shows when it comes to the rate of killings per 100,000 residents, the Coast recorded a ratio of 1.9 murders compared to 1.8 killings/100,000 people in Blacktown and 1.7 in the Inner South West.
It comes after the murder of five people in nine months on the Coast including the stabbing death of elderly woman Leonne Ivanoff in January.
The 74-year-old was allegedly stabbed to death by her dementia-suffering husband Ben in the couple’s Umina Beach home on Nowack Ave.
He was subsequently charged with her murder and was today expected to face a mental health fitness inquiry in the Sydney Supreme Court.
On April 5 Clint Starkey was lured to the Caltex service station at Peats Ridge where he was brutally bashed by up to four people after a falling out with Rebels bikies.
He died two months later as a result of his injuries.
The sergeant-at-arms of the gang’s Peninsula chapter Adam David Symons, 36, was charged with the 42-year-old’s murder and returns to court later this month.
Two further murders occurred within the space of a fortnight when Jayden Mason, 21, was allegedly kicked and stomped on at Lake Haven on June 24.
Two men were charged with his murder and a third with concealing a serious offence and remain before the courts.
On July 3 young dad Jesse Thompson, 19, was shot as he sat in a Toyota Kluger after it was chased through the streets of Wyong by a Triton utility.
Three members of the same family were arrested and charged over his death.
They too remain before the courts.
Meanwhile the Central Coast’s collective heart was broken after the strangling death of young mum Blair Dalton at Ettalong Beach in September.
Her ex-partner Lance Pearce was initially charged with attempted murder but committed suicide by choking on a chicken sandwich wrapped in plastic while in custody before his charge could be upgraded.
The mayhem comes as three of 17 major categories of crime have fallen or remained stable according to BOCSAR’s latest quarterly update, released today.
Breaking and entering at businesses, shops and other “non-dwellings” fell 8.1 per cent in the 12 months to September while shoplifting fell 10.4 per cent and malicious damage to property fell 6.5 per cent.
Terrigal State Liberal MP Adam Crouch said the latest data reflected the “dedication of our local police to keeping our community safe”.
“I would like to thank the Central Coast community for doing their bit by reporting crime, working closely with our local police officers, and remaining vigilant,” Mr Crouch said.
Police Minister Troy Grant said for the first time in nine years, recorded incidents of domestic violence assault had fallen across the state.
Domestic violence fell 3.5 per cent in NSW and marginally on the Coast.
In the 12 months to September there were 1639 incidents of domestic violence on the Coast compared to 1717 in the same period last year — a drop of 78 incidents.
“The last time we saw domestic violence assault rates drop was in 2008, so it’s an incredible result and great news for all the people working tirelessly at the coalface to protect victims and hold perpetrators to account,” Mr Grant said.