BOCSAR police stats: Rise in domestic assaults on the northern beaches
The latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures have been released — and they include an increase in domestic assault offences and shoplifting on the northern beaches.
Domestic assault offences have risen sharply across the northern beaches, according to the latest NSW crime figures.
And shoplifting in the region has skyrocketed by more than 25 per cent.
In the 24 months to March 2019, the number of domestic violence-related assaults has jumped by 19.4 per cent, the latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) figures released on Thursday show.
BOCSAR researchers also found that in the 12 months to March, 455 domestic and family violence assaults were recorded on the northern beaches.
There were also 257 reports of people breaching Apprehended Violence Orders.
Police largely attributed the rise in domestic assaults to proactive policing efforts and increased reporting of attacks.
NSW Police spokesman for domestic and family Violence, Mark Jones, said police would continue to work hard to combat domestic violence.
“Domestic and family violence is one of the most challenging crimes facing police and we are focusing our resources to target this specific area,” Assistant Commissioner Jones said.
“With this report, we have noted that domestic violence murder matters involving non-intimate relationships have increased more so than those in intimate relationships.
“These relationships include relatives, carers, and those who reside together.”
Assistant Commissioner Jones said while police had introduced a number of initiatives to tackle domestic violence including creating Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Teams, he urged the community to tell police about assaults.
“We all have a responsibility to report any suspected domestic violence incidents,” he said.
The BOCSAR report showed that in the 12 months to March this year, there were 618 shoplifting offences on the northern beaches compared to 494 for the previous year.
There were also 123 sexual assaults reported in the year to March 2019.
Burglaries remained stable with 378 break and enters reported, while there were 758 thefts from motor vehicles.
Assault numbers were also stable at 632 in the 12-month period.
Malicious damage to property was also up with 1298 offences recorded in the 12 months to March and 1227 fraud offences were recorded for the same period.
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