Police scientific officers inspect a potential crime scene … the overall crime rate in the South West Police District has risen 5.4 per cent over the past year

October 13, 2017

Drug, liquor and traffic offences are down across the South West Police District – which includes the South Burnett – but assaults and thefts have risen.

South West District Officer, Acting Superintendent Mike Curtin, welcomed the release of the Queensland Police Service’s Statistical Review on Friday.

The Review provides an insight into the level and nature of crime reported in each police district in Queensland.

The overall crime rate across the South West District rose by 5.4 per cent from 2015-16 to 15,642 offences in 2016-17.

“The overall crime rate of offences against the person over the past 10 years increased by 18.4 per cent and offences against property increased by 5.5 per cent,” Acting Superintendent Curtin said.

In 2016-17, unlawful use of motor vehicles rose by 46.2 per cent, unlawful entry into houses was up 18.5 per cent and unlawful entry into shops increased 69.8 per cent.

Acting Superintendent Curtin urged the community to be vigilant with the security to their houses, vehicles and other property items, with the rate of offences against property increasing by 14.9 per cent in the past year.

“A lot of break-ins and property thefts are opportunistic and are preventable,” he said.

Fraud offences increased by 7 per cent.

Cheque fraud dropped 23.3 per cent and other fraud decreased 11.1 per cent. Computer fraud rose from two in 2015/16 to seven in 2016/17, credit card fraud increased by 37.9 per cent and identity fraud increased from three in 2015-16 to 24 in 2016-17.

“Over the past 10 years fraud offences have dropped by 34 per cent, however with ongoing advancements in technology, fraudulent activity continues to be prevalent in our community with 500 offences reported in the South West District over the past 12 months,” Acting Superintendent Curtin said.

The rate of drug offences across the district dropped 0.2 per cent in the past year.

“There were 3385 drug offences in 2016-17, compared to 3404 in 2015-16,” Acting Superintendent Curtin said.

The number of liquor offences across the district dropped 20.4 per cent.

Traffic and related offences also decreased, by 4.7 per cent.

“It is positive to see offences on our roads decline in the district, however 1973 in the past year is still too high and police will continue to focus on traffic offences to ensure the roads are safe for everyone,” Acting Superintendent Curtin said.

The rate of Domestic and Family Violence Applications rose from 811 in 2015-16 to 829 in 2016-17, or 2 per cent in the rate of applications per 100,000 people.

“In 2016/17, approximately 78 per cent of applications were police initiated,” Acting Superintendent Curtin said.

The number of breaches to Domestic and Family Violence Protection Orders rose from 674 in 2015-16 to 785 in 2016-17.

“The increase in reporting of domestic and family violence can be attributed to the proactive work being done by police in the district and from the community gaining more confidence in reporting incidents to police,” Acting Superintendent Curtin said.

“The QPS is committed to working in partnership with the people of Queensland to provide professional policing services that will, over time, prevent and reduce the incidents of domestic violence in Queensland.”

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In the Wide Bay Burnett Police District – which includes Goomeri and Kilkivan – there was a reduction in armed robberies, unlawful entry into other premises and traffic offences.

The overall crime rate across the Wide Bay Burnett District from 2015-16 to 2016-17 rose by 7.2 per cent to 24,422 offences.

“The overall crime rate of offences against the person over the past 10 years decreased by 3.7 per cent when adjusted for population growth, while offences against property increased by 4.8 per cent,” District Officer Superintendent Craig Hawkins ​said.

The rate of armed robberies across the district dropped by 4.1 per cent in the past year and by 4.8 per cent over the past 10 years.

In 2016-17, unlawful use of motor vehicles rose by 26.1 per cent, unlawful entry into houses was up 19.3 per cent and unlawful entry into shops increased by 5.8 per cent. Unlawful entry into other premises was down 1.5 per cent.

Offences against property rose 15.9 per cent.

The number of traffic and related offences across the district dropped 17 per cent to 2182.

Fraud offences rose 88.4 per cent. Identity fraud increased 35.8 per cent, other fraud was up by 33 per cent, computer fraud rose from 17 in 2015-16 to 46 in 2016-17, cheque fraud rose from two in 2015-16 to 16 in 2016-17, and credit card fraud increased from 250 in 2015-16 to 672 in 2016-17.

“Over the past 10 years fraud offences have increased by 84.6 per cent and with ongoing advancements in technology, such as contactless payments, fraudulent activity continues to be prevalent in our community with 1277 offences reported in the Wide Bay Burnett District over the past 12 months,” Superintendent Hawkins said.

The rate of Domestic and Family Violence Applications decreased from 795 in 2015-16 to 715 in 2016-17, or 10 per cent in the rate of applications per 100,000 people.

“In 2016-17, approximately 70 per cent of applications were police initiated,” Superintendent Hawkins said.

“Domestic and Family Violence Orders are civil orders and not a criminal matter, however if the respondent breaks conditions in the order they are committing a criminal offences.”

The number of breaches to Domestic and Family Violence Protection Orders rose from 1385 in 2015-16 to 1644 in 2016-17.

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The Annual Statistical Review 2016-17 is available on the QPS website

Footnote: All percentages relate to the number of reported offences per 100,000 people


 

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