NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has welcomed the latest crime statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), showing major reductions in a number of serious crime categories in New South Wales, particularly homicide and robbery.
The report has shown the 2014 calendar year saw significant decreases in the following crime categories in NSW:
- Homicide down 18%
- Robbery (all categories) down 18.5%
- Unlawful entry with intent (break and enter) down 7.4%
- Motor vehicle theft down 6.6%
- Assault (all categories) down 4.9%
Commissioner Scipione attributed these results to the hard work and tenacity of officers, as well as extensive community co-operation and engagement.
“I welcome these results which reflect the hard work of the NSW Police Force. I am extremely proud of all my officers who deliver day in and day out to protect the community and keep it safe”.
“We are committed to proactive crime prevention to stop crime before it occurs and have worked extensively in recent times to dismantle criminal networks. But when crime does take place, I am confident we have the best trained and most efficient investigators in the country to put the offenders before a court”.
“With the continued help of our community we can continue to make this state a safer place for all,” Commissioner Scipione said.
The statistics reflected a small rise in sexual assault offences, which saw a 0.9% increase in New South Wales. This reflects a nationwide trend which could possibly be the result of increased reporting.
“We have worked hard over the years in developing and improving on our victim care, and we actively encourage all sexual assault victims to report all incidents,” Commissioner Scipione said.