WA's crime rate has fallen to a record low

16/08/05
Western Australia has recorded its biggest percentage fall in burglary and car theft in the last 10 years.
Releasing the latest police statistics, Police Minister Michelle Roberts said home burglary had fallen by a massive 20.9 per cent when comparing the 2004-05 financial year with the previous year.
Mrs Roberts said burglaries in industrial and commercial sites had also plummeted by 21.5 per cent over the same period.
"Burglary is being soundly beaten throughout the State," she said.
"These are fantastic results, the lowest burglary figures since 1995-96, which shows the tremendous work of our police, in conjunction with strong community support, has significantly reduced this invasive crime.
"Our Government is committed to protecting our unique lifestyle in WA and through the introduction of the DNA program and high profile police operations, the police are now winning the battle in targeting recidivist offenders."
Mrs Roberts said the overall crime rate in WA had dropped by 5.8 per cent, with the total number of reported offences decreasing by more than 14,200.
Most significantly the overall clearance rate for police solving crimes had risen by 5.6 per cent reflecting the Government's commitment to a $250million funding boost for the Police Service and additional frontline police officers.
"Car theft has also dropped by 19.5 per cent over a 12-month period which is the single biggest percentage fall for this crime in the last 10 years," the Minister said.
"The Gallop Government's crime-fighting program is on target, with significantly lower crime rates and higher clearance rates."
Mrs Roberts said the Government's focus on reducing domestic violence and child abuse in response to the Gordon Inquiry was also evident in the crime statistics, with a reported 79 per cent increase in threatening behaviour and a 23 per cent increase in assault.
"This reflects the fact that victims of domestic violence are now having more confidence in the way this crime is being investigated and are prepared to come forward and inform police," she said.
"Since our Government boosted police powers to target domestic violence earlier this year the Police Family Protection Unit have reported an incredible response, with more than 3,420 restraining orders being issued since last December.
"Offenders can be now removed from a home for up to 72 hours and breaches of these new police restraining orders carry substantial penalties - a $6000 fine or a two-year jail period."
Other improvements in the crime rates in WA include:

• non-aggravated robbery down by nearly 22 per cent;
• theft has dropped by 10.5 per cent;
• graffiti by nearly 10 per cent; and
• offences against property by 11 per cent.