David Crisafulli finally drops crime stats he’s gambled his career on

David Crisafulli has dropped the key crime statistic he’s gambled his political career on. But there are big concerns about the figure.

Premier David Crisafulli claims victim of crime numbers are falling. Picture: Richard Walker

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Premier David Crisafulli has claimed victim of crime numbers are falling as he released incomplete Queensland Police data.

The Premier has boasted a 5.7 per cent drop in victim rates, despite initially pledging to quit if the overall numbers did not fall at the end of his first term.

He later changed his promise tying his premiership to victim rates in line with population growth.

Mr Crisafulli on Tuesday morning ahead of estimates revealed crime across 12 categories had fallen, including robbery which was down 13.2 per cent, break and enters down 12 per cent and stolen cars down 6.4 per cent.

This contributed to a 5.7 per cent decrease in victim rates - or 3.2 per cent when not accounting for population growth.

But the significant crime category of “other theft” was excluded from the calculations.

Mr Crisafulli said the “large cohort” had been left out.

“That ... victim number actually increased by a larger proportion than what we were discussing in the 12 criteria that we’ve got here. The issue with other theft is some of it may not relate to a victim, definitely someone pinching a street sign, in the spirit of transparency that hasn’t been included.”

Steven Miles says the government had cherry picked the data. Photo Steve Pohlner

Opposition Leader Steven Miles claimed the government had cut corners and cherry picked the victim numbers.

“Tens of thousands of Queenslanders are no longer considered victims in the eyes of (Premier) David Crisafulli,” he said.

“His victim data isn’t worth the paper that it’s printed on, because he’s cut corners, cherrypicked, and removed offences that should matter.

“Victims of other theft could be the local independent grocer who has had stock swiped from their shelves, or someone who’s had items stolen from their car.”

Among the 12 categories of crime connected to the 5.7 per cent drop were homicide, other homicide, murder charges, assault, grevious assault, serious assault, sexual assault, rape, attempted rape, robbery, unarmed kidnapping, extortion, stalking and unlawful use of motor vehicle.

Mr Crisafulli was unable to give a total number of victims.

During the state election he set a victim threshold of 289,657, which he vowed to bring down, saying “this is the number that matters”.

Originally published as David Crisafulli finally drops crime stats he’s gambled his career on