27/10/05
Western Australia's plummeting crime rate continues to set new records.
Releasing the latest crime statistics, Police Minister Michelle Roberts said there were significant drops in burglary, murder, aggravated robbery, and motor vehicle theft when comparing the 2005-06 financial year with the previous year-to-date.
Mrs Roberts said motor vehicle theft - which has fallen by 6.3 per cent - has now recorded the lowest number of offences (1,701) in a quarter since 1991-92.
She said burglary offences, which have dropped by 11.5 per cent, made these latest figures (9,249 offences) the lowest September quarter statistics to be recorded in the last 15 years.
"This is yet another stunning achievement which reflects the hard work and commitment by our front-line police officers to make our communities safer," Mrs Roberts said.
"These outstanding results show the Gallop Government's massive investment in boosting police resources, putting on additional police and introducing the DNA program is having a profound impact on slashing crime."
The Minister said the overall crime in WA had dropped by a further 3.9 per cent over the previous June 2005 quarter, resulting in the lowest overall quarterly crime statistics since the middle of 1996.
"The steady increase in the crime rate from 1996 to 2001 has been reversed, and we have now returned to the position we were in before the previous Government took office," Mrs Roberts said
Other results include:
- aggravated robbery has decreased by 34.5 per cent;
- homicide has dropped by a massive 85.7 per cent;
- burglary (non-dwelling) down by 18.2 per cent; and
- detection of drug trafficking up by 18.7 per cent.
The Minister said the crime statistics also indicated strong increases in the clearance rates for most crimes.
Some of the results include aggravated robbery with a 25.6 percentage point increase and sexual assaults with a 36.6 percentage point increase in their 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 36.3 per cent increase in the reporting of threatening behaviour.
"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.
Minister's office: 9213 6600
