Published Thursday, 13 November, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Crime drops in Southern Region
Southern Police Region Assistant Commissioner Col McCallum said today the Queensland Police Service (QPS) 2007/08 Annual Statistical Review highlighted the fact that crime rates in almost all key categories fell in the last financial year.
The Annual Statistical Review and Annual Report, tabled in Parliament today by the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport Judy Spence, presents a comprehensive insight into the level and nature of crime reported for each police region and district throughout Queensland.
Minister Spence and Assistant Commissioner McCallum praised the results and gave special thanks to the members of the Southern Region for their hard work and dedication to making this area a safer place.
“The government has a commitment to and investment in policing in Queensland. We are tough on crime and the causes of crime. The fact that the overall crime rate continues to fall is indicative of this stance,” Ms Spence said.
Assistant Commissioner McCallum said the statistics reflected the strong, sustained relationship that exists between police and the community. This relationship is delivering results and reducing crime.
“We are very pleased to see a seven percent reduction in the assault rate. We are also pleased with a four percent overall decline in the number of break-ins. This result was built upon a one percent fall in the number of break-ins to homes, a nine percent fall in the number of break-ins to shops and a seven percent fall in the number of other premises broken into,” he said.
“This is not only the result of sound policing but a positive reflection on community members who are locking their houses and premises, ensuring valuables are safe and frustrating would be thieves,” Assistant Commissioner McCallum said.
Tragically there were seven homicides in 2007/08, the same number as in the previous year.
There was one fewer instance of robbery – the total being 161. Eighty-four of these were armed robberies.
Kidnapping and abduction offences, which includes deprivation of liberty, saw an additional four offences reported for 2007/08 for a total of 44.
“The majority of offences recorded under kidnapping and abduction included deprivation of a person’s liberty during domestic violence matters, serious assaults and assaults of a minor nature. This also includes any approaches of a threatening nature where there is no actual physical abduction, for example, approaches made to a member of the community in the street by a person not known to them.”
Assistant Commissioner McCallum said the region saw good results in arson and unlawful use of motor vehicles which both remained static, other property damage which declined by six percent and other theft which fell by three percent.
“Weapons Act Offences also fell by 24 percent and other sexual offences fell by eight percent.
“The number of reported rape and attempted rape offences rose from 206 in 2006/07 to 253 in the last financial year. There may be a number of reasons for increases in this crime category including the willingness of victims to report historical matters to police or a small number of offenders committing many offences. Five percent of these complaints were reported to police 10 or more years after they occurred and one offender was proceeded against for 14 offences. A number of other complaints were unsubstantiated and subsequently withdrawn,” he said.
The overall rate of fraud throughout the region climbed by eight percent. A 109 percent increase in the rate of computer fraud is largely attributable to a single juvenile offender making a large number of fraudulent online auction transactions.
Cheque fraud declined by 41 percent and credit card fraud fell by five percent. There was a 15 percent increase in other fraud.
There were 17 instances of identity fraud which for the first time is being identified as a separate crime category in 2007/08.
“While identity fraud is a relatively minor issue in the region it is still a pertinent time to remind people of the need to be vigilant when conducting themselves online regardless of whether it is in a personal or a professional capacity.”
Assistant Commissioner McCallum said increases in some crime categories were a positive reflection on targeted police operations that successfully disrupted criminal behaviour.
“We have made a concerted effort to crack down on anti-social behaviour in the community and, to that end, a 13 percent increase in good order offences, a 17 percent increase in Liquor Act offences and an 11 percent increase in drug offences means that police are out on the street doing their job.”
The number of prostitution offences increased by four to 13, while Weapons Act offences fell from 493 in 2006/07 to 381 in 2007/08.
Southern Region encompasses the six policing districts of Charleville, Dalby, Warwick, Roma, Ipswich and Toowoomba.
Note: All percentages used in the release relate to the number of reported offences per 100,000 people. Media seeking regional and district crime statistics from the Queensland Police Service 2007/08 Annual Statistical Review can locate details on the QPS website at www.police.qld.gov.au. There is a link from the homepage to the current statistical review, which was tabled in State Parliament today.
Media contacts: Minister’s Office – 3239 6218
Police media – 3015 2444
The Annual Statistical Review and Annual Report, tabled in Parliament today by the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport Judy Spence, presents a comprehensive insight into the level and nature of crime reported for each police region and district throughout Queensland.
Minister Spence and Assistant Commissioner McCallum praised the results and gave special thanks to the members of the Southern Region for their hard work and dedication to making this area a safer place.
“The government has a commitment to and investment in policing in Queensland. We are tough on crime and the causes of crime. The fact that the overall crime rate continues to fall is indicative of this stance,” Ms Spence said.
Assistant Commissioner McCallum said the statistics reflected the strong, sustained relationship that exists between police and the community. This relationship is delivering results and reducing crime.
“We are very pleased to see a seven percent reduction in the assault rate. We are also pleased with a four percent overall decline in the number of break-ins. This result was built upon a one percent fall in the number of break-ins to homes, a nine percent fall in the number of break-ins to shops and a seven percent fall in the number of other premises broken into,” he said.
“This is not only the result of sound policing but a positive reflection on community members who are locking their houses and premises, ensuring valuables are safe and frustrating would be thieves,” Assistant Commissioner McCallum said.
Tragically there were seven homicides in 2007/08, the same number as in the previous year.
There was one fewer instance of robbery – the total being 161. Eighty-four of these were armed robberies.
Kidnapping and abduction offences, which includes deprivation of liberty, saw an additional four offences reported for 2007/08 for a total of 44.
“The majority of offences recorded under kidnapping and abduction included deprivation of a person’s liberty during domestic violence matters, serious assaults and assaults of a minor nature. This also includes any approaches of a threatening nature where there is no actual physical abduction, for example, approaches made to a member of the community in the street by a person not known to them.”
Assistant Commissioner McCallum said the region saw good results in arson and unlawful use of motor vehicles which both remained static, other property damage which declined by six percent and other theft which fell by three percent.
“Weapons Act Offences also fell by 24 percent and other sexual offences fell by eight percent.
“The number of reported rape and attempted rape offences rose from 206 in 2006/07 to 253 in the last financial year. There may be a number of reasons for increases in this crime category including the willingness of victims to report historical matters to police or a small number of offenders committing many offences. Five percent of these complaints were reported to police 10 or more years after they occurred and one offender was proceeded against for 14 offences. A number of other complaints were unsubstantiated and subsequently withdrawn,” he said.
The overall rate of fraud throughout the region climbed by eight percent. A 109 percent increase in the rate of computer fraud is largely attributable to a single juvenile offender making a large number of fraudulent online auction transactions.
Cheque fraud declined by 41 percent and credit card fraud fell by five percent. There was a 15 percent increase in other fraud.
There were 17 instances of identity fraud which for the first time is being identified as a separate crime category in 2007/08.
“While identity fraud is a relatively minor issue in the region it is still a pertinent time to remind people of the need to be vigilant when conducting themselves online regardless of whether it is in a personal or a professional capacity.”
Assistant Commissioner McCallum said increases in some crime categories were a positive reflection on targeted police operations that successfully disrupted criminal behaviour.
“We have made a concerted effort to crack down on anti-social behaviour in the community and, to that end, a 13 percent increase in good order offences, a 17 percent increase in Liquor Act offences and an 11 percent increase in drug offences means that police are out on the street doing their job.”
The number of prostitution offences increased by four to 13, while Weapons Act offences fell from 493 in 2006/07 to 381 in 2007/08.
Southern Region encompasses the six policing districts of Charleville, Dalby, Warwick, Roma, Ipswich and Toowoomba.
Note: All percentages used in the release relate to the number of reported offences per 100,000 people. Media seeking regional and district crime statistics from the Queensland Police Service 2007/08 Annual Statistical Review can locate details on the QPS website at www.police.qld.gov.au. There is a link from the homepage to the current statistical review, which was tabled in State Parliament today.
Media contacts: Minister’s Office – 3239 6218
Police media – 3015 2444