Gold Coast crime dips but criminologist says it’s due to ‘less policing’

Crime on the Gold Coast has taken a dip, but the good news hasn’t been welcomed by a prominent criminologist, who says it’s likely due to less policing.

THE Gold Coast crime rate is dipping overall but homicide, sexual assaults, common assaults are robbery are all on the rise.

The rate of drug crime has had a major drop — falling more than 17 per cent in the past year — show official crime figures released yesterday.

Overall the city recorded a 3.7 per cent decrease in the crime rate but homicide soared 36 per cent, sexual assaults jumped 20.5 per cent and armed robbery climbed 9.1 per cent.

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Dr Terry Goldsworthy. Pic by Richard Gosling

The city ranked 12th out of 19 local government areas for its overall crime rate based on offences per head of population in the independent report. The Queensland Outback was on top of the list with the worst crime rate rise of 0.8 per cent.

Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said for him the figures — which compare the 2018 financial year to the previous one — were because of less policing was happening.

“The lions share of any reduction we are seeing is being driven primarily by less police activity,” he said.

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“Other offences categories — weapons, drink driving, good order offences — which are all generated by police, has decreased by 12 per cent which is driving that overall drop.”

“Offences against a person has seen a slight decrease, and offences against property has gone up. Other offences categories — weapons, drink driving, good order offences — which are all generated by police, has decreased by 12 per cent which is driving that overall drop.

“What concerns me is we’re seeing much less enforcement, we’ve seen some operations in recent days so maybe the penny has dropped.”

The report also showed rape and attempted rape cases reported has nearly doubled in nine years.

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“Offences against a person has seen a slight decrease, and offences against property has gone up.”

Cases rose almost 16 per cent on the previous year, while sexual assault offences grew more than 20 per cent with 582 reported between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

Mr Goldsworthy said it was likely the #MeToo movement and high-profile cases have had an impact on how many were reported to police.

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“I suspect we are seeing more people prepared to report and more people reporting conduct they may not have thought was inappropriate. Some of those could be historical,” he said.

Assaults were also higher with a 20 per cent lift since 2007 and a seven per cent increase in serious assaults compared to the year before.

Cases rose almost 16 per cent on the previous year, while sexual assault offences grew more than 20 per cent with 582 reported between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan: “(The report) shows statewide there was an overall crime increase of 0.5 per cent over the previous year,” he said.

Shadow police minister Trevor Watts called for more money in the Budget for “overstretched” police.

“Labor have cut the police budget by $44 million this year and watered down laws tackling organised crime and youth justice,” he said.

“Police can’t cope with the volume of crime caused by four years of a Palaszczuk Labor Government.”

Gold Coast crime (2017-18)

48,827 offences (3.7% decrease)

Homicide (up 36%)

Assault (up 5.6%)

Sexual assault (up 20.5%)

Robbery (up 5.8%)

Armed robbery (up 9.1%)

Traffic offences (down 6.4%)

Break ins (down 9.3%)

Drug offences (down) 17.3%