ADVOCATES for victims of violent crimes say there is still a “great reluctance” for men and women who have been sexually assaulted to make a report to police, despite new statistics showing instances of some sex crimes have jumped by more than 25 per cent in Newcastle.
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The Victims of Crime Assistance League (VOCAL) was speaking after the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research released its quarterly update on Thursday.
According to the statistics, instances of most major crimes across the Hunter are down or stable, but some types have spiked significantly over the last two years.
In the Newcastle local government area, sexual assault increased by 13 per cent, with a total of 155 recorded incidents. Indecent assault, acts of indecency and other sexual offences jumped by 27 per cent, with 245 incidents.
Break and enter from a non-dwelling (20.6 per cent), theft from a vehicle (16.3 per cent) and malicious damage to property (19.2 per cent) were all types of crime that had increased in Newcastle, the bureau said.
VOCAL chief executive Kerrie Thompson suggested that the increase in instances of sex crimes in Newcastle could be attributed to improved processes for helping men and women who are victims to “speak out” and make a report, particularly for historical offences, which was a positive.
However, Ms Thompson said while public awareness was better, and had even improved just in the previous two years, she said it was still a largely under-reported crime.
“There is a great reluctance to make a report to police because there is a fear of the unknown,” she said. “It’s a very personal decision for people to make.”
She added that advocacy had become louder in the area of family violence, which could have also affected sexual assault statistics.
“It’s about understanding that sexual assault can happen in a marital relationship,” Ms Thompson said.
Newcastle City Chief Inspector Dean Olsen agreed that sexual assault was still an under-reported crime.
“But police do take it very seriously and will ensure that anyone who comes forward feels comfortable,” he said.
Chief Inspector Olsen noted that the figures showed most major crime was at a record low in Newcastle. He said the jump in property offences highlighted by the Herald could be attributed to a handful of offenders.
Lake Macquarie Superindendent Brett Greentree attributed the 40 per cent jump in shoplifting offences in his command to a crackdown enforced by his officers.
“It’s a very deliberate strategy of mine,” he said. “Shoplifting and fraud-type offences impact the consumer, and ultimately the community pays.”
