14 September 2004
Sexual Assaults, House Break-ins Down in Tennant
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Tennant Creek recorded 44 percent less sexual assaults (7 less offences) in the 03/04 financial year compared to the 02/03 financial year. The township also had 16 percent less house break-ins (15 less offences).
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.
The year-to-year comparisons show reported assaults rose by 43 percent or 103 additional offences and commercial break-ins were up by 22 percent or 15 additional offences.
Justice Minister Dr Peter Toyne said the drop in house break-ins and sexual assaults is encouraging, but much still needs to be done in the area of assaults and commercial break-ins.
“The government takes a multi-layered approach to crime reduction and prevention. As well as government agencies, we look to partnerships with the community, non-government organisations and local government to tackle the issues,” Dr Toyne said.
“Police and the Barkly Region Safer Committee are working together to try and reduce the number of assaults in the town.”
“Police have launched a four pronged attack on assaults, in particular domestic violence.”
“A safe house scheme has been established to give people refuge from offenders while they wait for the police to arrive.”
“The return-to-home scheme is also being bolstered to get people back into their own communities.”
“Repeat offenders are also being targeted and police are cracking down on weapons in the community.”
An important part of these overall positive results is the bolstering of police resources under the $75 million Building Our Police Force Plan.
There are more police in operational duties across the Territory.
Between August 2003 and the end of May 2004 the number of operational officers has increased by over 109 and the number of Aboriginal Community Police Officers has increased by 17.
The Barkly Region Communities Safe Strategy and Action Plan has also been adopted and is dedicated to:
- making places safer and planning for community friendly spaces
- working together to create safer communities and beating safety problems
- co-ordinating the implementation of aboriginal cultural laws and recognising the police role in keeping us safe
- providing opportunities for young people to live, grow and contribute to a safe community, and
- celebrating our culture and heritage to engender a society that values safe and acceptable behaviour
Tennant Creek has been one of the major beneficiaries of Crime Prevention Grants:
- $20,000 for anti-vandalism/anti-graffiti project
- $43,637 for the first year of ‘Real Justice in the Territory Schools’ pilot project, Tennant Creek High School is one of four involved.
- $13,280 for a ‘Sk8 Park Recreation Project’
“These sorts of community projects along with work being done by departments from Health and Education to Community Development and Justice, all work to help address crime in the Northern Territory ,” Dr Toyne said.
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 60% (3 less offences)
- property damage decreased by 3% (11 less offences)
- motor vehicle theft and related offences decreased by 9% (3 less offences)
- total number of break-ins remained unchanged, that is the same amount of break-ins were recorded
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 up by 29% (24 additional offences)
- assaults were up 21% (17 additional offences)
- total number of property offences were up 56% (98 less offences)
- house break-ins up 1025% (41 additional offences) HOWEVER the figure was affected by the arrest of a couple of offenders responsible for a number of break-ins between them
- commercial break-ins up 26% (6 additional offences)
- motor vehicle theft and related offences remained static, that is there were six offences during the quarter, the same number as in the previous quarter
- property damage up 13% (11 additional 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 Tennant Creek.
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.