Violent and property crimes including assaults are up in Orange, the latest official crime figures have revealed.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research statistics show violent and property crimes have risen by 18.8 per cent in the past two years.
It showed the increase was higher than the state average.
[Several] NSW statistical areas recorded a significant upward trend in violent crime.
- Jackie Fitzgerald, executive director BOCSAR
The figures also compared the number of crimes committed in the March quarter this year to the 2019 figures.
It found the number of domestic violence related assaults was up from 266 to 322 and other 'non-domestic' violence related assaults were up from 242 to 289.
Sexual assaults were up from 72 to 79 while indecent assaults were up from 83 to 101.
There were also more thefts from retail shops, malicious damage to property and breaking and entering into dwellings.
However, the number of motor vehicle thefts was about the same as last year.
The figures showed the number of cases of stealing from vehicles was down considerably from 497 in 2019 to 316 in 2020. Cases of fraud were also down.
Across the region the figures also showed an increase of 4.2 per cent in violent crime in the Central West over the past two years.
BOCSAR executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said violent crime was up across the state.
"In the latest 24 months, [several] NSW statistical areas recorded a significant upward trend in violent crime," she said.
"Greater Sydney (up 2.5 per cent), Central West (up 4.2 per cent), Illawarra (up 4.7 per cent), New England and North West (up 2.5 per cent) and Riverina (up 6.3 per cent).
"No NSW statistical area recorded a significant downward trend in violent crime over the latest 60 or 24 months."
She said in the Central West the rate of breaking and entering dwellings was up by 9.3 per cent, break and enter non-dwellings was up by 11.6 per cent , motor vehicle theft up by 8 per cent and stealing from dwellings up by 22.1 per cent.
Ms Fitzgerald said the figures reflected crime trends pre-COVID 19.
"We know that the social distancing measures which commenced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have had a significant impact on the criminal justice system."
HAVE YOUR SAY
- Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...