We’re feeling safe, reporting fewer crimes

TASMANIANS feel safer than their interstate counterparts and reported fewer serious crimes last financial year than in previous years, according to the emergency services’ annual report.

The Police, Fire and Emergency Management annual report showed Tasmania recorded 487 serious crimes in 2017-18, a reduction of 15 per cent.

Serious crimes include serious assault and sexual assault, robbery, homicide-related offences, involving a minor in child exploitation, child prostitution, and arson, as well as incidents involving property valued at $50,000 or more.

Serious assault made up the bulk of those crimes at 29 per cent, followed by serious sexual assault on 22 per cent, robbery on 18 per cent and arson on 18 per cent.

Total offences dropped 5 per cent to 26,174, including a 7 per cent decrease in offences against property and 11 per cent in “other” offences.

Family violence incidents increased about 8 per cent to 3385 reports in 2017-18.

The annual report said: “An increase in incidents does not necessarily mean that family violence is increasing; it could also suggest an increase in reporting to police, which would be positive.”

Ninety-four per cent of Tasmanians said they felt safe walking locally during the day and 60 per cent said they felt safe walking at night.

This compared to a national rate of 90 per cent and 53 per cent respectively. The report also showed police seized 2318 more ecstasy or MDMA tablets than in the previous financial year with a total 8862 tablets seized.

Benzodiazepine seizures were also up from 160 tablets in 2016-17 to 439 in 2017-18.

Overall, Tasmania Police recorded 494 serious drug offences, an increase of 1 per cent on 2016-17.