A crook set of statistics

THE Gold Coast region has Queensland’s worst year-onyear crime increases in 14 of 35 categories measured by police.

The Queensland Police Service annual statistics review paints a picture of rising assaults, fraud, theft and handling of stolen goods.

But one of the Gold Coast’s top cops said Gold Coast was “safe” and blamed the rise in crime on offences related to domestic violence.

The figures also reveal a decrease in the number of drug offences, despite property theft, often linked to drugs, being on the rise.

Gold Coast Police District Acting Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said the district had seen a nine per cent increase in crime compared to 2014-2015.

He said most of the rising assaults, abductions and kidnappings were due to domestic violence.

Domestic violence applications increased by 69 per cent in just one year and breaches THE BAD Common assault up 52% Handling stolen goods up 23% Offences against the person up 16% Serious assault up 29%

of domestic violence orders are also on the rise.

“People need to be more concerned about what is happening behind closed doors,” he said.

“We, as a community, need to stand up and say we will not tolerate women being bashed THE GOOD Rape and attempted rape down 24% Sexual offences down 21% Extortion down 46% Arson down 4%

and abused homes.”

Acting Chief Supt Hanlon said there was an 18.9 per cent increase in vehicle thefts and 6.4 per cent lift in home breakins.

“Some people are still leaving their vehicles unlocked,

in

their own some people are still leaving items of value in view,” he said.

“Some of these issues are not just a police responsibility – they are a community issue and the community should work with us to reduce crime.”

Acting Chief Supt Hanlon said there was a spike in fraud cases after an incident last year resulted in about 200 charges.

As for the decrease in drugrelated offences, Chief Supt Hanlon said that was due to the previous year recording the highest number of drug cases on record.

He also said it was due to an operation in the year which resulted in a number of drugs being taken off the streets.

Bond University criminologist and former detective Terry Goldsworthy said the decrease in drug offences was a concern, considering the increase in theft and fraud.

He said those offences often went hand-in-hand with drug issues.

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates said the huge increase in domestic violence offences was a cause for concern.

“We need more police on the Gold Coast,” she said.