Reports of domestic violence related assaults and sexual assaults have increased in the Hawkesbury in the 12 months to March 2018 compared with the same period last year, according to a new report.
Statistics released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) today (June 6) showed a total of 275 domestic violence related assaults were reported in the Hawkesbury Local Government Area (LGA) over the 12 months to March of this year. The figure compares to 241 for the same period in 2017.
A total of 56 sexual assaults were also reported to March of this year, compared to a total of 41 in 2017.
Reports of indecent assault and robbery without a weapon remained remained the same in 2018 and 2017, however criminal incidents for 13 other major offences – including indecent assault, non-domestic violence related assault, robbery with a weapon not a firearm, and malicious damage to property – dropped this year compared to last year.
The number of sexual assault reports in the statistical area of Hawkesbury and Bulkham Hills represented a 26.7 per cent increase, prompting the NSW Opposition to demand the NSW Government release its Sexual Assault Strategy.
Opposition Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Spokeswoman Jenny Aitchison urged Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Minister Pru Goward to release the Sexual Assault Strategy and “prove that she is taking this issue seriously”.
Ms Goward responded by saying the government had already announced the NSW Law Reform Commission would review current laws around consent in sexual assault trials, which was the ”first priority action of the Sexual Assault Strategy”.
“Our upcoming Sexual Assault Strategy will also include the creation of a priority housing category for victims of child sexual abuse,” she said in a statement. “The strategy is in its final stages of development and will be released shortly.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the upward trend in some crime categories could be attributed to a number of factors, such as the reporting of sexual assaults where statistics are based on the date the offences were reported, not the date they were committed.
In addition, police have been actively encouraging the community to report historic assaults, which also leads to a significant increase in the number of reports received, a NSW Police statement said. A large proportion of the reports also stemmed from referrals from the Royal Commission.
Across the state, arrests for drug offences, such as possession and use of cocaine, have notably increased by 46 per cent in the last two years.
Commissioner Fuller said police would continue to target organised crime networks responsible for the distribution of illicit substances through regular drug operations, including the use of drug dogs.
“Our focus is community safety and we won’t tolerate behaviour that risks the wellbeing of others,” he stated.
