A newly released report on mid-year crime statistics reveals Hawkesbury crime rates have fallen across the board, but steal from motor vehicle rates are up compared to the previous year.
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data unveiled its June quarterly update which analyses crime rates across 12 months to June 2014 and 12 months to June 2015.
Compiled using the most recent statistics from Hawkesbury police, the data shows a drop in 10 of the 17 major offence categories compared to 2014.
Particularly over the 12 months to June 2015, break and enter of a dwelling has decreased the most, from 294 to 192 incidents, down by a third.
According to the report, malicious damage to property was down by 16 per cent from 709 to 589.
Domestic violence was lower by 22 per cent down from 352 to 274 and motor vehicle theft declined by 16 per cent from 192 to 161.
However, stealing from a motor vehicle increased slightly, from 422 to 445 incidents.
Hawkesbury Detective Inspector Paul McHugh said he was pleased to see such a good report card for crime in the region but there was always room for improvement.
‘‘The malicious damage figure is a substantial improvement from last year,’’ he said. ‘‘Having said that, these incidents can often be some of the most difficult to investigate in many instances.
‘‘This is because these offences may include property damage and damage to cars or homes where often there are no witnesses or other evidence to assist in the investigation.’’
He said police will continue to investigate such offences and prosecute offenders where the evidence is available.
Crime is stable and falling in the Riverstone area as well, according to the recent statistics — pleasing news for Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly. In the 24 months to June 2015 none of the 17 major offence categories across NSW showed any significant upward trend, while six offences were trending down.
Mr Conolly said Riverstone was following the statewide trend, with most offences stable or falling.
‘‘We are seeing a downward trend in major crime categories in the Blacktown Council area, including stealing from a person, which is down 15.9 per cent and malicious damage to property is down 11.1 per cent,’’ he said. Mr Conolly praised local police for doing an outstanding job in the community to ensure crime remained stable or decreased.
“These results reflect their hard work. I commend their outstanding efforts,” he said.
HAWKESBURY STATISTICS:
JUNE 2015
- Murder 2
- Assault domestic violence related 274
- Assault non domestic violence related 257
- Sexual assault 46
- Indecent assault 71
- Robbery without a weapon 18
- Robbery with a firearm 5
- Robbery with a weapon not a firearm 4
- Break and enter dwelling 192
- Break and enter non-dwelling 116
- Motor vehicle theft 161
- Steal from motor vehicle 445
- Steal from retail store 144
- Steal from dwelling 146
- Steal from person 22
- Fraud 291
- Malicious damage to property 589
June 2014
- Murder 1
- Assault domestic violence related 352
- Assault non domestic violence related 263
- Sexual assault 51
- Indecent assault 64
- Robbery without a weapon 14
- Robbery with a firearm 1
- Robbery with a weapon not a firearm 10
- Break and enter dwelling 294
- Break and enter non-dwelling 149
- Motor vehicle theft 192
- Steal from motor vehicle 422
- Steal from retail store 125
- Steal from dwelling 196
- Steal from person 28
- Fraud 280
- Malicious damage to property 709
