Tasmanian crime stats: Repeat offenders responsible for increase in crime

Tasmania Police have released their annual crime statistics, showing a 26 per cent rise in offences. See the full breakdown of Tasmanian crime.

Burglaries from homes and cars have risen in Tasmania. Picture: Brendan Francis

Increased property offences and assaults contributed to an increase in crime across the state last financial year, with police saying a small number of repeat offenders are largely responsible.

Tasmania’s Police’s 2022–23 crime statistics supplement shows total offences were up 26 per cent, or 6624 offences, on the previous year.

Last year’s increase followed a 6 per cent rise in offences in 2021–22.

The 32,522 total number of offences recorded was above the five-year average of 26,390.

The report said a 30 per cent rise in offences against property, an 11 per cent rise in offences against the person and a 20 per cent increase in fraud and similar offences contributed to the overall rise, as did the removal of remaining Covid-19 restrictions.

The number of robberies, including armed robberies, rose in Tasmania last financial year.

The report said the annual crime rise followed a long term decrease in crime.

“The 2022–23 result is higher than the previous several years. This recent volume is similar to that last observed in 2007-08, although Tasmania’s population has grown since then. A general past trend is that crime decreased each year between 2005–06 and 2012–13,” the report said.

A 4 per cent drop in sexual assaults followed an increase in reports the previous year, thought to be driven by increased public focus on the issue.

The crime statistics supplement is released each year with the tabling of the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management annual report in parliament.

Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said offences against property accounted for 77 per cent of offences, with stealing, injure/destroy property, and burglary making up most of the total offences recorded.

“The increase in crime in many categories is influenced by a small number of repeat offenders and our police are committed to identifying these criminals and holding them accountable,” Mr Bodnar said.

Assistant Police Commissioner, Adrian Bodnar. Picture: Linda Higginson.

“Tasmania Police utilises resources and sets operational priorities in response to identified crime trends to implement proactive crime prevention strategies, and prevent crime.”

Mr Bodnar said strategies targeting crime included a statewide focus on youth crime, specific taskforces to respond quickly to current crime trends and active offenders, increased CBD patrols, more bail and curfew checks and targeting repeat offenders.

Mr Bodnar said Tasmanians could implement their own simple crime prevention strategies.

“Tasmania continues to be a very safe place to live and while people should be able to leave their homes and cars unlocked, the reality is an unlocked house or vehicle is a target for offenders,” he said.

We need people to secure their properties and belongings. Criminals are often opportunistic, which means they will target the easy option such as an unlocked home, or a business without sufficient security measures.”

CRIME IN TASMANIA 2022/23

Total offences: Up 26 per cent compared with the previous year, to 32,522

Most common type of offence: Offences against property (stealing, injure/destroy property, stealing and motor vehicle stealing) – 77 per cent of all offences

Offences against the person: (assault, sexual assault, robbery, murder) – 18 per cent of all offences

ASSAULTS

3906 (up 14 per cent).

Most common location of assaults:

– Residences: 54 per cent

– In the street: 18 per cent

– Retail settings: 11 per cent

The majority of assaults (80 per cent) did not involve a weapon. 4 per cent involved a knife and 1 per cent involved a gun. The alleged offender was known to the victim in 74 per cent of cases.

SEXUAL ASSAULTS:

586 (down 4 per cent).

76 per cent of sexual assaults took place in residences.

Women accounted for 87 per cent of victims.

MURDERS

4 (down from 7 the previous year).

The offender was known to the victim in all cases.

ROBBERIES

198 (Up 27 per cent).

ARMED ROBBERIES

60 (up by 16).

Most robberies occurred in residences, followed by retail settings, on the street and in recreational or open spaces.

Armed and aggravated armed robbery accounted for 30 per cent of robberies.

BURGLARIES

3181 (up 34 per cent).

This figure is higher than the five year average.

Burglary of motor vehicles/other conveyances was up by 58 per cent.

STOLEN VEHICLES

1746 (up 38 per cent).

This year’s increase followed a 19 per cent increase the previous year. This year’s result was above the five year average.

Most cars were stolen from residences, with 27 per cent stolen from the street.

STEALING

2680 (up 23 per cent)

This is above the five year average

Most stealing occurred in residential locations, followed by retail.

ARSON AND RELATED OFFENCES

518 (Up 28 offences).

This is above the five year average.

80 per cent of these offences involved setting fire to property, 7 per cent setting fire to vegetation and 13 per cent were arsons.

FRAUD AND SIMILAR OFFENCES

1061 (up 20 per cent).

47 per cent of these offences were computer related fraud, followed by other fraud (35 per cent), making off without payment (14 per cent).

OTHER (MISCELLANEOUS) OFFENCES

452 (up by 54).

The largest proportion of these were firearms offences (36 per cent), followed by public order offences (23 per cent), justice offences (16 per cent), child exploitation and bestiality (16 per cent).

Compared with the previous year the largest change was an increase of 19 public order offences.

(Source: Tasmania Police Crime Statistics Supplement 2022/23).