NSW murders reach record levels since 2014, new crime data shows

Murders across NSW have soared to a decade high, according to the latest crime data, with one horrific stabbing attack accounting for six victims alone.

Murders across the state have reached record levels, with the horrific stabbings at Westfield Bondi Junction last year accounting for six victims alone.

The latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) December quarterly report reveals 85 murder victims were recorded by NSW Police in 2024 – the highest number in a calendar year since 2014 when there were 93 deaths.

The 85 victims included 46 men, 26 women and 13 young people and children – up from 36, 18 and four respectively in 2023.

At least 26 per cent of all people murdered were killed in an event involving multiple victims, including incidents of family violence.

Six people died and many others were injured in the Bondi Junction stabbing attack in 2024. File picture

In April 2024, Joel Cauchi stabbed six people and wounded 10 others in a three-minute frenzied attack at Westfield Bondi Junction.

Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by a lone police officer.

The NSW state coroner launched an inquiry into the deaths in November.

Meanwhile, the BOCSAR data showed drug rates including possession or use of narcotics had increased by 17 per cent last year.

In the past 10 years, incidents of blackmail and extortion were also up by 27 per cent.

Other crime rates were shown to be stable with theft from cars and other offences below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

This is the second consecutive quarter in which none of the 13 major offences increased.

BOCSAR executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said one unfortunate outlier in the latest crime statistics was the high number of murders recorded.

“The large number of murders in 2024 is due to an unusually high number of events involving multiple murder victims; with the incident in April 2024 at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre accounting for six victims alone,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“It’s pleasing to see crime rates have been stable over the past two years. For many offences, the recent stable trend follows years of decline.

“As a consequence, recorded incidents of robbery, break and enter, general stealing and malicious damage to property are all much lower than a decade ago. Recorded incidents of domestic assault, non-domestic assault and sexual violence, however, have increased over the past decade.”