The ACT has recorded significant decreases in most reported crimes over the past six-month period.
Comparing the period July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, to the corresponding period in 2009, ACT has seen a 29.5 per cent decline in burglaries, a 35.2 per cent drop in reported motor vehicle thefts, a 54.8 per cent reduction in robberies not involving a weapon, and a 30 per cent decrease in reported sexual offences.
Similarly, the downward crime trend revealed in the full calendar year comparison (2009-2010) shows burglaries fell 11.8 per cent, motor vehicle theft by 24.6 per cent, robberies not involving a weapon by 37.4 per cent and sexual offences by 21.8 per cent.
While many factors can contribute to these significant decreases, Acting Deputy Chief Police Officer Corey Heldon said that these positive outcomes, particularly in property crimes such as motor vehicle theft and burglary, are partially attributable to several ACT Policing initiatives over the period.
These initiatives include the establishment of a dedicated property crime team with an aggressive crime-targeting strategy; a revitalised intelligence collection and analysis effort against volume property crime; targeting known recidivist offenders; and enforcing bail conditions on known property crime offenders.
“The incidence of crime in our community is influenced by a wide range of combining factors so while we must be cautious in making self-congratulatory announcements about the police being solely responsible for this outcome, it is important to acknowledge the terrific work that police have performed in the past six months which I believe has contributed to this result,” a/Commander Heldon said.
“We’ve seen some outstanding work recently, both by our dedicated property crime team and our General Duties officers. Recently one of our Woden Patrol officers investigated a burglary and then used our forensic database to connect the alleged young recidivist offender to multiple burglaries and thefts throughout Canberra going back two years.
“Police are committed to providing a safer and more secure community but it’s worth remembering that everyone living and working in our community has an active role to play through reporting suspicious persons or activity to Crime Stoppers,” a/DCPO Heldon added.
01 July 2009 – 31 December 2009 compared to 01 July 2010 – 31 December 2010*
Reported period |
Assault (Other) |
Assault (Home) |
Sexual Offences |
Robbery – armed |
Robbery – other |
Burglary |
Motor vehicle theft |
Theft other than vehicle |
Property Damage |
2009 |
740 |
426 |
180 |
56 |
115 |
2724 |
1166 |
7115 |
5066 |
2010 |
727 |
452 |
126 |
56 |
52 |
1920 |
756 |
5673 |
3843 |
% change |
-1.8 |
6.1 |
-30.0 |
0.0 |
-54.8 |
-29.5 |
-35.2 |
-20.3 |
-24.1 |
*Source: PROMIS as at 17 January 2011
Calendar year – 01 January 2009 – 31 December 2009 compared to 01 January 2010 – 31 December 2010*
Reported period |
Assault (Other) |
Assault (Home) |
Sexual Offences |
Robbery – armed |
Robbery – other |
Burglary |
Motor vehicle theft |
Theft other than vehicle |
Property Damage |
2009 |
1555 |
878 |
339 |
111 |
206 |
4917 |
2216 |
13265 |
9537 |
2010 |
1541 |
941 |
265 |
127 |
129 |
4339 |
1670 |
12674 |
8077 |
% change |
-0.9 |
7.2 |
-21.8 |
14.4 |
-37.4 |
-11.8 |
-24.6 |
-4.5 |
-15.3 |
*Source: PROMIS as at 19 January 2011
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