❓ Minister Roberts announces a 9.5% decrease in overall crime rate in WA for March 2005 quarter compared to the previous year, attributing it to government investment in police and crime-fighting initiatives. She also addresses increases in reported assault and threatening behaviour due to legislative changes and improved reporting.
AnsweredQoN 97Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Can the minister inform the house of the latest achievements by the Police Service in reducing crime in Western Australia? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wanneroo for her question. I am very pleased to announce once again that crime is on the decline in Western Australia. The government has made a very significant commitment to boosting community safety, and the latest police statistics are testimony to the successful crime-fighting program. They demonstrate that our program is on target and that the downward trend is continuing. The March 2005 quarterly results show a 9.5 per cent decrease in the overall crime rate compared with the same quarter last year. That is more than 18 000 fewer offences, which is great news for the whole community. It is another fantastic achievement, reflecting the hard work and commitment of our police officers, not only because crime has dropped, but also because clearance rates have improved by more than seven per cent. I will list some of the latest statistics. Aggravated robbery offences have dropped by a massive 34 per cent, home burglaries have decreased by 22 per cent and burglaries against commercial properties have fallen by 23 per cent. For the first time I can remember, there has been a decrease in all nine categories of offences against property - an overall drop of 14.5 per cent, which is a spectacular result. Motor vehicle theft offences show one of the biggest declines ever recorded - 23 per cent - and graffiti offences have dropped by nearly 18 per cent. The Gallop government is committed to protecting Western Australia’s unique lifestyle, and these statistics show that our massive budget investment in the Police Service is now paying off. The combination of more police, and the DNA legislation and the funding to back it up, is having a significant impact. I caution members, as I table the “Reported Offence and Clearance Statistics” for the December quarter of 2004 and the March quarter of 2005, to read the introductory remarks and explanatory notes, because there are some anomalies. In particular, I draw the attention of members to page 3, under the heading “Increases in offences against the person” and the comparison of data. Two very clear points are made. Firstly, assault offences have increased due to enhancements to family and domestic violence legislation in December 2004, and ongoing government and police strategies to encourage the reporting of offences. Secondly, the threatening behaviour offences have increased due to improvements in frontline incident management, through the incident management system introduced in 2004-05. That now enables the recording of all threatening behaviour offences in the Police Act and the Criminal Code. Previously, that was not the case. Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for Wanneroo for her question. I am very pleased to announce once again that crime is on the decline in Western Australia. The government has made a very significant commitment to boosting community safety, and the latest police statistics are testimony to the successful crime-fighting program. They demonstrate that our program is on target and that the downward trend is continuing. The March 2005 quarterly results show a 9.5 per cent decrease in the overall crime rate compared with the same quarter last year. That is more than 18 000 fewer offences, which is great news for the whole community. It is another fantastic achievement, reflecting the hard work and commitment of our police officers, not only because crime has dropped, but also because clearance rates have improved by more than seven per cent. I will list some of the latest statistics. Aggravated robbery offences have dropped by a massive 34 per cent, home burglaries have decreased by 22 per cent and burglaries against commercial properties have fallen by 23 per cent. For the first time I can remember, there has been a decrease in all nine categories of offences against property - an overall drop of 14.5 per cent, which is a spectacular result. Motor vehicle theft offences show one of the biggest declines ever recorded - 23 per cent - and graffiti offences have dropped by nearly 18 per cent. The Gallop government is committed to protecting Western Australia’s unique lifestyle, and these statistics show that our massive budget investment in the Police Service is now paying off. The combination of more police, and the DNA legislation and the funding to back it up, is having a significant impact. I caution members, as I table the “Reported Offence and Clearance Statistics” for the December quarter of 2004 and the March quarter of 2005, to read the introductory remarks and explanatory notes, because there are some anomalies. In particular, I draw the attention of members to page 3, under the heading “Increases in offences against the person” and the comparison of data. Two very clear points are made. Firstly, assault offences have increased due to enhancements to family and domestic violence legislation in December 2004, and ongoing government and police strategies to encourage the reporting of offences. Secondly, the threatening behaviour offences have increased due to improvements in frontline incident management, through the incident management system introduced in 2004-05. That now enables the recording of all threatening behaviour offences in the Police Act and the Criminal Code. Previously, that was not the case. Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
I thank the member for Wanneroo for her question. I am very pleased to announce once again that crime is on the decline in Western Australia. The government has made a very significant commitment to boosting community safety, and the latest police statistics are testimony to the successful crime-fighting program. They demonstrate that our program is on target and that the downward trend is continuing. The March 2005 quarterly results show a 9.5 per cent decrease in the overall crime rate compared with the same quarter last year. That is more than 18 000 fewer offences, which is great news for the whole community. It is another fantastic achievement, reflecting the hard work and commitment of our police officers, not only because crime has dropped, but also because clearance rates have improved by more than seven per cent. I will list some of the latest statistics. Aggravated robbery offences have dropped by a massive 34 per cent, home burglaries have decreased by 22 per cent and burglaries against commercial properties have fallen by 23 per cent. For the first time I can remember, there has been a decrease in all nine categories of offences against property - an overall drop of 14.5 per cent, which is a spectacular result. Motor vehicle theft offences show one of the biggest declines ever recorded - 23 per cent - and graffiti offences have dropped by nearly 18 per cent. The Gallop government is committed to protecting Western Australia’s unique lifestyle, and these statistics show that our massive budget investment in the Police Service is now paying off. The combination of more police, and the DNA legislation and the funding to back it up, is having a significant impact. I caution members, as I table the “Reported Offence and Clearance Statistics” for the December quarter of 2004 and the March quarter of 2005, to read the introductory remarks and explanatory notes, because there are some anomalies. In particular, I draw the attention of members to page 3, under the heading “Increases in offences against the person” and the comparison of data. Two very clear points are made. Firstly, assault offences have increased due to enhancements to family and domestic violence legislation in December 2004, and ongoing government and police strategies to encourage the reporting of offences. Secondly, the threatening behaviour offences have increased due to improvements in frontline incident management, through the incident management system introduced in 2004-05. That now enables the recording of all threatening behaviour offences in the Police Act and the Criminal Code. Previously, that was not the case. Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
I caution members, as I table the “Reported Offence and Clearance Statistics” for the December quarter of 2004 and the March quarter of 2005, to read the introductory remarks and explanatory notes, because there are some anomalies. In particular, I draw the attention of members to page 3, under the heading “Increases in offences against the person” and the comparison of data. Two very clear points are made. Firstly, assault offences have increased due to enhancements to family and domestic violence legislation in December 2004, and ongoing government and police strategies to encourage the reporting of offences. Secondly, the threatening behaviour offences have increased due to improvements in frontline incident management, through the incident management system introduced in 2004-05. That now enables the recording of all threatening behaviour offences in the Police Act and the Criminal Code. Previously, that was not the case. Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
[See papers 348 and 349.]
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for Wanneroo for her question. I am very pleased to announce once again that crime is on the decline in Western Australia. The government has made a very significant commitment to boosting community safety, and the latest police statistics are testimony to the successful crime-fighting program. They demonstrate that our program is on target and that the downward trend is continuing. The March 2005 quarterly results show a 9.5 per cent decrease in the overall crime rate compared with the same quarter last year. That is more than 18 000 fewer offences, which is great news for the whole community. It is another fantastic achievement, reflecting the hard work and commitment of our police officers, not only because crime has dropped, but also because clearance rates have improved by more than seven per cent. I will list some of the latest statistics. Aggravated robbery offences have dropped by a massive 34 per cent, home burglaries have decreased by 22 per cent and burglaries against commercial properties have fallen by 23 per cent. For the first time I can remember, there has been a decrease in all nine categories of offences against property - an overall drop of 14.5 per cent, which is a spectacular result. Motor vehicle theft offences show one of the biggest declines ever recorded - 23 per cent - and graffiti offences have dropped by nearly 18 per cent. The Gallop government is committed to protecting Western Australia’s unique lifestyle, and these statistics show that our massive budget investment in the Police Service is now paying off. The combination of more police, and the DNA legislation and the funding to back it up, is having a significant impact. I caution members, as I table the “Reported Offence and Clearance Statistics” for the December quarter of 2004 and the March quarter of 2005, to read the introductory remarks and explanatory notes, because there are some anomalies. In particular, I draw the attention of members to page 3, under the heading “Increases in offences against the person” and the comparison of data. Two very clear points are made. Firstly, assault offences have increased due to enhancements to family and domestic violence legislation in December 2004, and ongoing government and police strategies to encourage the reporting of offences. Secondly, the threatening behaviour offences have increased due to improvements in frontline incident management, through the incident management system introduced in 2004-05. That now enables the recording of all threatening behaviour offences in the Police Act and the Criminal Code. Previously, that was not the case. Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
I thank the member for Wanneroo for her question. I am very pleased to announce once again that crime is on the decline in Western Australia. The government has made a very significant commitment to boosting community safety, and the latest police statistics are testimony to the successful crime-fighting program. They demonstrate that our program is on target and that the downward trend is continuing. The March 2005 quarterly results show a 9.5 per cent decrease in the overall crime rate compared with the same quarter last year. That is more than 18 000 fewer offences, which is great news for the whole community. It is another fantastic achievement, reflecting the hard work and commitment of our police officers, not only because crime has dropped, but also because clearance rates have improved by more than seven per cent. I will list some of the latest statistics. Aggravated robbery offences have dropped by a massive 34 per cent, home burglaries have decreased by 22 per cent and burglaries against commercial properties have fallen by 23 per cent. For the first time I can remember, there has been a decrease in all nine categories of offences against property - an overall drop of 14.5 per cent, which is a spectacular result. Motor vehicle theft offences show one of the biggest declines ever recorded - 23 per cent - and graffiti offences have dropped by nearly 18 per cent. The Gallop government is committed to protecting Western Australia’s unique lifestyle, and these statistics show that our massive budget investment in the Police Service is now paying off. The combination of more police, and the DNA legislation and the funding to back it up, is having a significant impact. I caution members, as I table the “Reported Offence and Clearance Statistics” for the December quarter of 2004 and the March quarter of 2005, to read the introductory remarks and explanatory notes, because there are some anomalies. In particular, I draw the attention of members to page 3, under the heading “Increases in offences against the person” and the comparison of data. Two very clear points are made. Firstly, assault offences have increased due to enhancements to family and domestic violence legislation in December 2004, and ongoing government and police strategies to encourage the reporting of offences. Secondly, the threatening behaviour offences have increased due to improvements in frontline incident management, through the incident management system introduced in 2004-05. That now enables the recording of all threatening behaviour offences in the Police Act and the Criminal Code. Previously, that was not the case. Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
I caution members, as I table the “Reported Offence and Clearance Statistics” for the December quarter of 2004 and the March quarter of 2005, to read the introductory remarks and explanatory notes, because there are some anomalies. In particular, I draw the attention of members to page 3, under the heading “Increases in offences against the person” and the comparison of data. Two very clear points are made. Firstly, assault offences have increased due to enhancements to family and domestic violence legislation in December 2004, and ongoing government and police strategies to encourage the reporting of offences. Secondly, the threatening behaviour offences have increased due to improvements in frontline incident management, through the incident management system introduced in 2004-05. That now enables the recording of all threatening behaviour offences in the Police Act and the Criminal Code. Previously, that was not the case. Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
Of course, members opposite do not like it. In the last four years of the previous government, not one new police officer was recruited. Over the past couple of years of the Gallop government, there has been a sustained decline in the rate of crime in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
Mr P.D. Omodei : The jails are all overcrowded. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The Deputy Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about jails. The fact of the matter is that there are more people in our jails because the clearance rates have improved. He should look at the seven per cent improvement, and how many more burglars are being caught and locked up in this state, and he will then see the explanation for the large number of prisoners. I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
I am delighted to table the quarterly reports for the December 2004 and March 2005 quarters, both of which show substantial declines in the rate of crime in Western Australia. [See papers 348 and 349.]
[See papers 348 and 349.]
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