13 July 2016

Police report big drop in crime

| Michael Reid
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Crime reports across Canberra have dropped 10.5 per cent in the first months of 2016, according to police.

Weston Creek has experienced the most dramatic reduction, down 21.8 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to ACT Policing statistics.

Other areas to experience a significant drop for the January to March quarter included Tuggeranong (20.6 per cent), Belconnen (17.9 per cent), Woden (17.7 per cent) and the Inner North (17.5 per cent).

The statistics exclude traffic infringement notices and collisions.

Over the quarter, three districts experienced an increase in crime reports, including the Inner South (up 12 per cent), Gungahlin (32 per cent) and the Molonglo District (82.9 per cent), where reports rose from 35 to 64.

Police say these increases can be explained, in part, by a continued expansion in population in those districts.

The quarterly statistics reveal robbery reports were down 39 per cent in the March quarter compared with same period last year.

Other drops were recorded in motor vehicle theft, down 38 per cent, sexual assault (down 23.8 per cent) and property damage (down 7.6 per cent).

However, reports of assault across the ACT increased 20 per cent and burglary 11.5 per cent.

While some crime types indicate a notable change, ACT Policing is satisfied the message to report suspicious behaviour, no matter how small, is resonating with the community.

This is supported by the rise in reports of ‘other offences against a person’, up from 25 to 78.

Such offences include acts intended to threaten or harass, which are often under-reported.

Craig McPherson, ACT Police’s acting superintendent of ministerial policy and performance, said it was encouraging to see an overall decrease in crime.

“The community should be commended as they play a significant role in reducing crime in our community, by undertaking simple preventative measures such as safeguarding their homes and vehicles, and actively reporting suspicious behaviour to police and Crime Stoppers.”

The full January to March 2016 quarterly crime statistics can be found on police.act.gov.au.

 

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Mysteryman said :

JC said :

It’s more than just “not reported”, the police seem to actively avoid recording it:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-26/woman-urinated-on-at-groovin-the-moo-criticises-security/7358072

At an all-ages event, a woman with her two young children was urinated on by a drunk, she told police and the police did not record the crime.

If you read the article it quite clearly says that police were unable to act as she did not wish to lay charges.

If the police didn’t witness it themselves, the only evidence is her statement. If she didn’t make a a formal statement then what exactly do you expect the police to do?

She obviously didn’t want to take the time to make a formal complaint to police…although strangely she did manage to take the time to make a complaint to the media.

Well, I did read the article and it sounded like she was very upset and the police weren’t exactly quick pulling out their notebooks to take her statement, but were actively discouraging the idea.

Another approach could have been to insist she make a statement under threat of charging her with concealing a crime if she didn’t co-operate.
One of those approaches would maximise crime stats, the other minimises it.
Co-incidence? I rather doubt it. I think they know exactly what they’re doing when they automatically and systematically pooh-pooh any citizen who tries to report a crime to them.

JC said :

dungfungus said :

Great news!

Does this mean resources can be freed up to finally properly investigate who killed Colin Winchester?

Lol if you believe anyone other than Eastman did it.

Many people believe all sorts of things.
What we now *know* is that the forensic “evidence” was utter garbage.
We also know that the DPP’s actions during the trial were so indistinguishable from misconduct that the recent inquiry had to point out that this conduct was “accidental” and didn’t intend to be misconduct.
We also know the Italian police have this pegged as a Ndanghetra hit and place no credence on the idea the convenient nutter did it.

So, seeing as these are the things we know, and given there really isn’t any evidence linking Eastman to the crime (which doesn’t mean anything – plenty of criminals aren’t linked to the crimes they committed – usually the cleverest and most professional of them rather than the raving lunatics, but hey, you never know) maybe the AFP should finally actually investigate the crime?

Druggies don’t break into houses much these days as Cash Converters (is that still around?) doesn’t pay cash for CDs (who buys those?) or electrical goods or jewellery. Nobody at the local pub wants that “stuff” either. Druggies now threaten small businesses for CASH. There should be more CCTV around.

Still, as they say, if somebody wants to break into your house, they will find a way.

JC said :

It’s more than just “not reported”, the police seem to actively avoid recording it:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-26/woman-urinated-on-at-groovin-the-moo-criticises-security/7358072

At an all-ages event, a woman with her two young children was urinated on by a drunk, she told police and the police did not record the crime.

If you read the article it quite clearly says that police were unable to act as she did not wish to lay charges. If the police didn’t witness it themselves, the only evidence is her statement. If she didn’t make a a formal statement then what exactly do you expect the police to do?

She obviously didn’t want to take the time to make a formal complaint to police…although strangely she did manage to take the time to make a complaint to the media.

JC said :

Note it refers to “reports” of crime.
I simply don’t bother to report “crime” anymore due to the negative responses I get.

Mustn’t be too important if you’re not reporting it. I think you’re doing us all a favour there.

dungfungus said :

Great news!

Does this mean resources can be freed up to finally properly investigate who killed Colin Winchester?

Lol if you believe anyone other than Eastman did it.

JC said :

Note it refers to “reports” of crime.
I simply don’t bother to report “crime” anymore due to the negative responses I get.

It’s more than just “not reported”, the police seem to actively avoid recording it:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-26/woman-urinated-on-at-groovin-the-moo-criticises-security/7358072

At an all-ages event, a woman with her two young children was urinated on by a drunk, she told police and the police did not record the crime.

JC said :

Note it refers to “reports” of crime.
I simply don’t bother to report “crime” anymore due to the negative responses I get.

How often are you a victim of crime?

In the last five decades I have only been a crime victim twice, both simple non-violent property offences. A simple straw poll of the five people sitting around me gives similar figures for everyone else as well.

All studies from reputable criminology organisations and bodies show that (with a couple of exceptions such as online fraud) crime rates are falling and you are less likely to be the victim of a crime now than at almost any time in Australia’s history. Interestingly as crime rates have dropped, the fear of crime and the perception that we are somehow living in lawless times has increased.

Note it refers to “reports” of crime.
I simply don’t bother to report “crime” anymore due to the negative responses I get.

We have ACT Police reporting a big drop in crime, yet the AMC is smashing all records for Indigenous incarceration. Who is responsible for investigating that crime?

dungfungus said :

Great news!

Does this mean resources can be freed up to finally properly investigate who killed Colin Winchester?

Hear hear.

Great news!

Does this mean resources can be freed up to finally properly investigate who killed Colin Winchester?

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