There’s a pint in it for the reader who ferrets out the most interesting statistics from this:
ACT Policing has continued to experience a decline in offences across the board according to the latest quarterly crime statistics for 2013, which show a 14 per cent decrease across the ACT when compared with the same period in 2012.
All of the seven ACT regions defined by the ACT Policing CrimeStatistics webpage experienced a decrease when compared to the same quarter last year, with the steepest decline observed in Weston Creek (31 per cent), Woden (21 per cent) and Tuggeranong (20 per cent). The Inner North experienced the smallest decrease of 4 per cent (from 2900 reported in 2012 to 2782 in 2013).
There have been significant decreases in several offence types across the ACT when comparing the April-June 2013 quarter to the same period last year. This includes motor vehicle theft (down 38 per cent) and robbery (down 24.5 per cent). The only offence types that showed an increase from the same quarter last year were theft (5 per cent) and burglary (1 per cent).
The quarterly results are consistent with an 11 per cent decrease in offences overall when comparing the 2012-13 financial year to 2011-12. The decline over the past year continues a five-year downward trend in reported crimes and offences in the ACT.
When comparing the 2012-13 financial year to the previous year, several types of offences show significant decreases; robbery (down 34 per cent), motor vehicle theft (down 28 per cent), sexual assault (down 17 per cent) and burglaries (down 15 per cent). The only offence type that showed an increase from the previous financial year was theft (6 per cent).
ACT Policing Superintendent Justine Gough said although it is pleasing to see most offences are continuing to trend down it is important not to get complacent when it comes to combating crime.
“It is pleasing to see crime statistics reflecting the positive effects of initiatives such as the Alcohol Crime Targeting Team and Property Crime Reduction Strategy, which are both joint ACT Policing and ACT Government initiatives.”
“While ACT Policing efforts under the Property Crime Reduction Strategy are having a noticeable impact on motor vehicle theft, burglary and robbery – other property theft has plateaued over the past two years, showing only marginal fluctuations each quarter. This statistical information will contribute to ACT Policing’s property crime targeting moving forward.”
“ACT Policing’s Crime Prevention and Intelligence portfolios also work to develop strategies on emerging crime issues in the Canberra community. For example, District Intelligence Officers allocate tasks to align with station specific priorities and identify crime ‘hot-spots’ which address issues at a local community level.”
“Crime is cyclical and although we have enjoyed a positive result over the past year it is important ACT Policing is ready to adapt and evolve in order to meet any new challenges which arise in the future,” Superintendent Gough said.
The latest data is available on the interactive CrimeStatistics webpage at police.act.gov.au.
[Courtesy ACT Policing]
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