A UNITED front against criminals is paying dividends for police, with the latest crime figures revealing 10 of the major crime categories falling across the city.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The latest figures released by the Bureau of Crime, Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show recorded reports of domestic violence are down from 229 to 213 in the past 12 months, sexual assault fell from 57 to 46, indecent assault fell from 62 to 59 and robbery with a firearm fell from two to zero.
Robbery with a weapon (not firearm) also fell from six to two, break and enter (non dwelling) fell from 68 to 38, motor vehicle theft fell from 66 to 60 and steal from dwelling fell from 128 to 113.
Steal from person fell from 25 to 23 and malicious damage fell from 530 to 466 in the 12 months up until March 2019.
Categories which increased included non domestic violence assault (up from 230 to 270 in the 12 months up to March 2019), robbery without a weapon (increased from six to nine reports) break and enter dwelling (increased from 216 to 238) fraud (increased from 253 to 268) and steal from retail store increased marginally from 126 to 131.
I wanted high visibility, police targeting the right people and making sure we were working as a team.
- Superintendent Paul McDonald
Steal from motor vehicle increased from 229 between March 2017 and 2018 to 265 the following year.
Chifley Police District's highest ranking officer, Supt Paul McDonald, said he was pleased with where the police district is sitting, commending his officers for their work on the ground saying their high visibility and intelligence driven approach is proving effective.
"We're kicking goals right across the region; I've got a great team who are committed to policing our town."
He said when he came to the command almost 18 months ago, he wanted to change the way policing was being done.
"I wanted high visibility, police targeting the right people and making sure we were working as a team.
"I don't want general duties working in isolation from the detectives; everyone is working as a team right across the command, and we are seeing the results."
He said a drug bust at Kelso over the weekend, where police allege a large quantity of cannabis, along with 200 cannabis plants were seized, was just one example of the work being done.
"We work on information and intelligence which comes across our desk and we use it to target the right people at the right time."
Do you love Bathurst news?
- Sign up now for our free morning headlines email