14 September 2004
Property Offences Drop in Katherine
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There were 191 less property offences in Katherine in a yearly comparison of crime statistics up until June 30.
The figures are part of the Quarterly Crime and Justice Statistics compiled by the Office of Crime Prevention released today covering the June 04 quarter.
“It’s heartening to see there were less property offences in Katherine in the year-to-year comparisons but offences against the person are not great and there is still much to be done in this area’’ Justice Minister Dr Peter Toyne said.
“Many of these offences are domestic violence cases. We’ve implemented targeted programs and initiatives to address domestic violence including dedicated liaison officers and funding of indigenous family violence initiatives.
“This financial year there is $1.48 million for whole-of-government domestic violence strategies.”
The year-to-year comparisons of the financial years 02/03 to 03/04 show in Katherine under offences against the person, reported sexual assaults rose by 69 percent or 11 additional offences and assaults were up by two percent or five additional offences.
“We follow a multi-layered approach to crime prevention and include not just government agencies but the general community and non-government organisations,” Dr Toyne said.
“The work being done by organisations like the Katherine Regional Harmony Group, which has been resourced to the tune of $600,000 by this government, is invaluable. They are working on a whole-of-community approach in preventing crime through action on areas like antisocial behaviour, alcohol and substance abuse.
“We also resource the Strong Families, Strong Communities, Strong Futures projects with $300,000 annually to assist in developing community responses to family violence and related issues.’’
Year to Year comparisons:
This data compares figures from one 12 month period to the next. Among the other key findings comparing the total number of offences in the 12 months to June 04 to the total number of offences in the 12 months to June 03:
- robberies decreased by 75% (3 less offences)
- property damage decreased by 23% (94 less offences)
- motor vehicle theft and related offences decreased by 7% (4 less offences)
- house break-ins were up 22% (16 additional offences)
- commercial break-ins decreased 25% (30 less offences)
- total number of break-ins decreased by 7% (14 less offences)
Quarter to Quarter comparisons:
Quarterly comparisons are the figures from the March 04 quarter (January/February/March) compared to the figures from the June 04 quarter (April/May/June). Key findings include:
- total number of offences against the person were down by 4% (3less offences)
- assaults was up 3% (2 additional offences)
- sexual assaults were down 56% (5 less offences)
- total number of property offences were up 3% (6 additional offences)
- house break-ins up 11% (2 additional offences)
- commercial break-ins decreased 50% (13 less offences)
- motor thefts and related offences up by 45% (5 additional offences)
- property damage down 14% (11 less offences)
Trends:
Trends are detected when there is an upward or downward movement in recorded crime levels of the last 12 months’ data. There were no trends identified for offences in Katherine.
June Quarter 2004 Crime and Justice Statistics and Regional Fact Sheets are available online at www.crimeprevention.nt.gov.au
NOTE:
- The preceding statistics are a measure of recorded crime across the Territory.
- The data is collected from the Police Real-time On-line Management Information System.
- Nationally it is recognised that there are varying levels of un-reported crime in our community but that recorded crime is the best available measure of changes in the level of crime in a community.
- Statistics in the Territory can be highly volatile, with large swings from one period or another. This is particularly the case for regional centres where small populations and changes in operational or administrative procedures may heavily influence statistics.