By JOLENE OGLE
Noosa is a safer place to live, work and raise a family, according to Police Minister Jack Dempsey who visited Noosa last week to release the latest crime statistics.
According to the statistics, most reportable offences are down, including robbery, which is down 50 per cent when compared to last year’s figures.
Mr Dempsey praised the efforts of the community and local police for bringing down the local crime rate and said team work was the key to fighting crime.
“Thank you to our local, hardworking police, but also the community of Noosa.
“We have seen the Noosa community working with police like never before,” he said.
“It’s a great credit to the community spirit we see here.
“Noosa certainly is a safer place to live, work and raise a family.”
Member for Noosa Glen Elmes said the statistics demonstrate how hard the local police are working and how great a place Noosa is to live.
“It goes to show, we live in a very safe community… a community that cares about itself,” he said.
According to the data, reported assaults have also decreased, down by 20 per cent, and unlawful entry is down 43 per cent on last year.
Most reportable offences have decreased with the exception of sexual offences, including rape, which have more than doubled.
Mr Dempsey said the increase in reported sexual offences could be due to an increase in confidence in the police.
“In previous years there used to be a lot of non-reporting, particularly in sexual offences. Particularly in areas where there are threats and intimidation pushed on to the community,” he said.
“I think one of the biggest aspects and flow on from our criminal gang legislation is that the community has more confidence now, and that has been reported as a significant rise, to actually report these offences and understand they are going to be significantly followed through.”
Mr Dempsey urged anyone who is the victim of an offence to come forward and report the incident to police.
“I say to anybody out there, if someone has committed an offence, please come through because police will leave no stone unturned in finding the offender.” he said.
