BY DAKOTA TAIT
The latest Hunter data is in, from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Violent offences have remained stable in the years leading up to December 2021, although the five-year trend, does show an almost eight percent reduction in property offences.
The numbers are consistent with the New South Wales average.
The Newcastle-Lake Macquarie area has seen a 10.7 percent fall in cases motor vehicle theft, with a 22.1 fall in the rest of the Hunter Valley.
The Hunter Valley except Newcastle also saw a 8.9 percent fall in break and enter dwelling incidents.
As a ratio to NSW rate of recorded criminal incidents per 100,000 population in the 12 months to December 2021, the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie area saw a slight increase in murder cases.
Overall, there were nine murders in the Hunter, seven of which were in the Newcastle-Lake Macqaurie area.
In the five years to December 2021, the Hunter Valley except Newcastle
saw a 1.7 percent increase in non-criminal domestic violence episodes,
compared to a 3.7 percent rise in the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie area.
Looking at individual local government areas in the year to December 2021, Lake Macquarie saw considerable falls in incidents of break and enter dwelling, motor vehicle theft, and steal from motor vehicle.
Maitland saw a decline in incidents of break and enter dwelling, break and enter non-dwelling, and motor vehicle theft.
Singleton saw a 110 percent rise in incidents of steal from motor
vehicle, but a fall in other theft offences, as well as a slight rise in
malicious damage to property.
Muswellbrook, however, saw a huge 232.5 percent increase in steal from motor vehicle incidents.
Newcastle and Port Stephens remained stable.
