Tasmania Police performance report shows crime drop in Launceston

Figures released by the Police, Fire and Emergency Management Department showed between July 2020 and July 2021 there were 5909 offences in Launceston, 1278 less than there were in the previous year.

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However, it was more than 2500 more than the next highest number recorded in any of the other 13 divisions in Tasmania.

Positively for the Launceston division, it saw the third highest drop in offences in the state.

The theme where Launceston had recorded the most crimes, but had dropped from the previous year, was mirrored across a number of indicators including public place assaults, offences against property, home burglary and stolen motor vehicles.

Motor vehicle burglary in particular saw a sudden drop from 453 to 282 over the 12 month period, while stolen motor vehicles fell from 374 to 315, and home burglaries from 312 to 249.

Northern District Commander Stuart Wilkinson said it was satisfying to see the numbers fall again.

"The latest data shows total offences in Launceston have fallen by 18 per cent in 2020-21, a bigger reduction than at the state-wide level," he said.

"These results are all positive and we will continue to work proactively to tackle crime in our community."

Serious crime in Launceston had slightly decreased from 111 to 109, in contrast to a number of districts that had seen the offence jump. Ten divisions exhibited a rise in serious crime.

Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Jacquie Petrusma said an increase in sexual assaults was of "significant concern" and attributed it in part to "unprecedented public discourse, media attention and increased awareness around sexual assault and consent".

Across the state serious crime had climbed from 592 to 700, and was well above the three year average of 568.

Ms Petrusma said she recognised the courage of victims and survivors to report sexual assault offences.

Outside of sexual assaults, Commander Wilkinson pointed to an effort in the district to crackdown on firearms as having been a contributor to a reduction in crime.

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"Our Northern Firearms Taskforce (established in May) has been very successful, with 60 firearms, 3070 rounds of ammunition, two explosive devices, illicit drugs and a large amount of cash seized. Further, 60 people have been charged with 266 offences," he said.

Police Association of Tasmania President Colin Riley said the latest figures had repeated themselves year-on-year and showed the Northern District and Launceston Division needed a continued departmental commitment of resources.

"The annual report clearly demonstrates that over a range of crime categories the Northern District has the highest victimisation rates of the three Districts, and the Launceston Division has the highest victimisation rates and incidents over many crime categories of the 13 divisions," he said.

Mr Riley said the high rates of crime also contributed to "some of the lowest clearance rates by Districts".

"This report is not a reflection of the police officers in Northern, they are some of the most hard-working in the state, they're just under-resourced," he said.

During the state election the state government committed to increasing Tasmania Police officer capacity by 50, with employment commencing from July 2022. Twenty-seven of those officers were set to end up in Launceston.

Across the whole of the Northern District total offences had fallen from 9248 to 7711, a decrease of more than 16 per cent.

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