This editorial focused on crime in the Central West. It argued that certain crimes, such as theft, strike at so called ‘soft targets’. It made the claim, very early on, that ‘brazen’ opportunistic criminals ‘roam’ the streets looking for opportunities to commit crimes.

From this, the editorial suggests to readers that “the days of being free and easy are gone. We must be extra vigilant and ensure our young children and elderly relatives are vigilant too.”

It goes on to say “it seems these days if we’re to avoid becoming victims we have to change the way we live”. This is a claim repeated in large, bold type in the body of the online article.

There is a troubling lack of context provided here. Throughout, there is no indication of how much of this type of crime is occurring in the Central West. In what could be promoted as a positive story, the truth is that crimes like these are stable or falling across the entire region. 

‘Break and Enter Dwelling’ in Dubbo remains above the state per capita rate, but has fallen significantly over the last two years, down 36 per cent. In Orange the same crime has dropped over 19 per cent in the last two years. Bathurst is down in this category as well.

‘Steal from motor vehicles’. Again, Dubbo remains above the state per capita rate, but has also fallen 37.6 per cent over the last two years. Orange has recorded no significant increase in this category over the last five years, nor has Bathurst.

‘Steal from person’ has shown no significant increase in Dubbo, Orange or Bathurst. ‘Robbery without a weapon’ in Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst numbers so few offences that no statistical trend can be calculated. Same for robberies with firearms and other weapons.

There are similar falls recorded around the state and locally, in the categories above, the reduction is actually greater than the state average. Yet, as is so often the case when lazy local media beat the crime drum, this editorial mentions none of this.

Also not mentioned are those crimes that actually are trending upwards, such as breaching AVOs, which has risen in Orange, and domestic violence. In addressing such crimes we have made far less progress.

For ‘street’ crimes, there is a clear opportunity to reassure readers that progress is being made. But instead, this editorial, amidst safer streets and falling crime rates, urges readers to be more vigilant and therefore more fearful.

They are asked to warn children and older people, ensuring they are fearful as well. Readers are asked to act on their fear and to change the way they live.

But these are the sort of changes we should be working hard to avoid, not promote.

Unnecessarily encouraging fear only damages the vibrancy of our region and diminishes the quality of our communities.