WA Police crime statistics reveal 50 per cent rise in public officer assaults, volume crime down significantly

Burglary offences have nosedived by a whopping 55 per cent in the past year, according to the latest WA Police crime data. Stealing and robbery offences have also significantly dropped, while domestic violence and serious assaults — including those committed against public officers — continue to rise. The data snapshot reveals the Mid West-Gascoyne region saw a 55 per cent decrease in burglary offences between July and September this year compared to the same period in 2022, down from 376 reported incidents to 169. Robbery is down 20 per cent, motor vehicle thefts have reduced by 17 per cent, while stealing from motor vehicles and from retail and non-retail premises has dropped 12 per cent. Mid West-Gascoyne Inspector Jon Munday said police had been cracking down on crime in the district over the past 12 months and the work was paying off. He said advanced technology, CCTV cameras, automatic number plate recognition, forensic response and information sharing had all contributed to a drop in volume crime. “The last 12-18 months we’ve been working really hard to lock the crooks up quicker,” he said. “I think we’re now starting to see the fruits of that labour.” Insp. Munday admitted it was a small cohort of kids who were responsible for most of the volume crime. He said youth engagement officers were in contact with schools and community organisations to re-engage youth and keep them away from crime. “Our community engagement youth policing officers are spending a lot of time working with the kids and what we call the high harm offenders,” he said. Statistics also reveal violence is rising in the district, with assaults on public officers soaring by 50 per cent this quarter compared to the year before. Insp. Munday said the rise in assaults on police officers was concerning, but was a “testament to the fact that guys and girls on the street on the frontline don’t take backward steps, they go forward and serve the community”. Reported domestic violence offences rose by 33 per cent, from 399 offences reported in the September 2022 quarter up to 530 offences reported this quarter. Serious assaults not related to family matters are also up 31 per cent, and sexual assaults are up 69.5 per cent. Insp. Munday said alcohol and substances were a big driver of violence and antisocial behaviour in the district. “Quite honestly, I think some of the increase could be attributed to the way we’ve got better at it and people are more willing and more comfortable to report these sorts of offences but we can’t hang our hat on that alone,” he said. “I think there is a broader increase across the whole WA community for family violence and we’re working on that. “We’re not tolerating family violence, or any sort of violence against any person.” CRIME SNAPSHOT IN MID WEST-GASCOYNE Sexual assault: Up 69 per cent Assault public officer: Up 50 per cent Family assault: Up 33 per cent Serious assault: Up 31 per cent Burglaries: Down 55 per cent Common assault: Down 3 per cent Stealing total: Down 12 per cent Steal motor vehicle: Down 17 per cent Robbery: Down 20 per cent Source: WA Police Change from September quarter 2022 to September quarter 2023