Violence and theft fall in Leichhardt

Leichhardt recorded significant drops in non-domestic violence, motor vehicle theft and retail theft over the past two years, according to new figures released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

Crime rates in most major categories are now at average or below average levels, and over the period of twelve months ending March this year, NSW police recorded no murders and only one case of robbery with a firearm in the council area.

A Leichhardt Council spokesperson said the Council was assisting in the prevention of crime through community forums, placemaking, youth engagement programs and several other initiatives, such as the Community Safety Precinct Committee which meets at Glebe police station today, June 20.

“Through the work and actions that Council delivers to implement its Community and Cultural plan, we proactively contribute to improved community safety and wellbeing and assist in preventing crime,” a spokesperson said.

The City of Sydney recorded higher levels of crime, with greater per capita rates of assault, murder and theft in comparison to Leichhardt and the rest of the state. But that can be inflated by the City of Sydney’s higher level of visitors who are not included in the per capita calculation.

“There are estimates of the transient population in [the City of] Sydney but they are not seasonally adjusted,” said Dr Don Weatherburn, director of the bureau. “Until we get better estimates of the transient population I think we have to live with the resident population as a denominator.”

Across the state, most major categories of crime either fell or held steady. However, incidences of drug crime jumped significantly. Ecstasy-related offences soared in particular, with recorded incidences of possession and/or use of the drug rising by 77 per cent this year. Incidences of dealing and/or trafficking ecstasy rose by 52 per cent.

Mr Weatherburn said it was difficult to attribute these trends to any one factor. “The rise in dealing and trafficking in ecstasy could reflect an increased focus on this offence, increased use of sniffer dogs at nightclubs, an increase in ecstasy consumption, or just plain luck in drug law enforcement,” he said.

Fraud also rose over the period, with 18 per cent more cases recorded this year across the state. This rise was in part due to drive-offs at service stations.