THE latest Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) results have revealed some positive signs for the Singleton local government area (LGA).
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In the 24 months leading up to September 2020, break and enter into dwellings, thefts from dwellings and non-domestic assaults have all dropped significantly.
Obviously the former two are quite heavily linked, which has been represented in their similar figures of a 36.7 per cent and 46.2 per cent drop over the past two years.
The period of lockdown due to COVID-19 has had a significant impact on those statistics nationwide, with the majority of LGAs seeing a decline in those crimes.
However, Singleton's figures have seen a more compelling decrease, and Hunter Valley Police District commander Tracy Chapman believes that is indicative of the work they have put in over the last few years.
"I think it's probably a combination of things, if we factor in high-visibility policing, some of our proactive policing strategies, certainly some arrests and really targeting some recidivist offenders had an impact overall in the area," she said.
"But also the forensic processes in policing these days and the good results from those forensic processes, but most importantly good information from the community at times as well as the community taking some responsibility."
She is also confident that both herself and her predecessors have been able to push the message of 'target hardening' which involves people making it more difficult for would-be perpetrators by doing things such as installing extra security around their homes or not leaving valuable items in cars.
Unfortunately, there is one area that Singleton remains quite high in, with a ratio of 4.4 criminal incidents per 100,000 population for non-dwelling break and enters in the 12 months leading up to September.
That category was a problem in Muswellbrook around June last year, with certain groups contributing to a large amount of those crimes.
Comd. Chapman stated the situation was similar down the Valley, with local police aware of a syndicate that were active earlier in the year.
She also believes that given the high amount of industrial areas and businesses in the area, the break and enter non-dwelling statistic is always likely to be skewed upwards in comparison to places with high density populations like metropolitan Sydney.
