Crime rate falling

NEW figures show crime is continuing to fall across a number of areas throughout NSW including break and enter, motor vehicle theft and steal from person.

Minister for Police and the Illawarra David Campbell welcomed the latest quarterly report from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research which reveals that in the two years to December 2006 crime has fallen or remained stable in 16 of the 17 major crime categories.

"These statistics show a continued trend towards reduced crime levels in NSW during the past five years," he said.

"Particularly pleasing is that property crimes " break and enters, motor vehicle thefts, steal from dwellings - continued to decline.

"The Iemma Government will continue ensuring our frontline police have the powers, equipment and training they need to continue their diligent efforts to drive down crime.

"This support means that our hard working police officers can focus on protecting our community with confidence and authority."

In the Illawarra break and enter " dwelling crimes are down by 13.4 per cent, motor vehicle theft saw a reduction of 17.5 per cent and steal from dwelling crimes are down by 17.5 per cent.

Across NSW the categories to record major drops in crime include break and enter " dwelling down by 4.1 per cent, break and enter " non-dwelling down by 2.4 per cent, motor vehicle theft down by 3 per cent and steal from person down by 6.8 per cent.

Crimes remained stable in the categories of murder; assault - domestic violence related; assault - non-domestic violence related; sexual assault, indecent assault, act of indecency, other sexual offences; robbery without a weapon; robbery with a firearm; robbery with a weapon not a firearm; steal from motor vehicle; steal from retail store and fraud.

Mr Campbell said despite the encouraging statistics, there was no room for complacency.

"Crimes of malicious damage, such as graffiti and vandalism, are of concern " and are the only category to show a slight rise, up 4.3 per cent across the State and up 5.1 per cent locally," he said.

"The Iemma Government has been working with Police who have been very active in implementing reforms and operational strategies to target malicious damage.

"Malicious damage to property is often committed by people who are drunk. That's why we committed an extra 30 officers specifically to patrol alcohol "hot-spots" where this sort of crime is most prevalent.

"The rise in malicious damage offences is most likely the result of an increase in graffiti crimes, which have become a prime target of the Iemma Government.

"This result justifies the tough measures the Government is implementing to stamp out graffiti crime."

Anti Graffiti measures introduced by the state government include strict conditions on the accessibility and display of graffiti cans, new laws to be introduced requiring a young person caught with a spray can in public to prove it was for a legitimate purpose, Police School Liason Officers to teach students about the consequences of graffiti and other malicious damage, Ongoing anti-vandalism operations targeting graffiti on public transport and the establishment of Community Safety Precinct Committees to provide a local focus on crime prevention strategies for graffiti and malicious damage.

Mr Campbell said the fight against crime was boosted by an additional 750 police officers in January, taking authorised strength to a record 15,206 officers.

"Under the State Plan, the Iemma Government has now set targets to further reduce crime. That's why we are supporting NSW Police with record numbers of police, and a record police budget of $2.2 billion," Mr Campbell said.