Crime is higher in regional and rural NSW, new research confirms, as calls continue for more to be done to crack down on youth crime rates including overhauling the state's bail laws.
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Significantly higher rates of violent and property crime continue to persist in the state's regions when compared to Sydney, according to a NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report.
Bureau executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said higher rates of crime in regional and rural NSW wasn't a new phenomenon but the disparity has widened over time.
"Since 2004, crime reductions in Sydney greatly exceeded those in the regions," she said.
Even within regional NSW, crime is not evenly distributed.
"In 2023, rates of both violent and property crime were almost three times the NSW average in the Far West and Orana region," Ms Fitzgerald said.
In the same year, the rate of property and violent crime in regional NSW was 59 per cent and 57 per cent higher, respectively, than in Sydney.
Motor vehicle theft, domestic and non-domestic assault as well as sexual assault all increased significantly in regional areas over the five years from 2019 to 2023.
Motor vehicle theft rose by 20 per cent while domestic assault was up 24 per cent and non-domestic assault saw a 14 per cent rise.
Sexual assault saw the most significant increase, with incidents up 47 per cent.
Premier Chris Minns unveiled plans to strengthen bail laws on Tuesday after mayors, police and members of the public called for more to be done to tackle crime, particularly in NSW regions.
The proposed legislative overhaul would include a temporary, extra test for older children charged with certain serious offences while they are already before the courts on similar allegations.
It would mean police and the judiciary needed a "high degree of confidence" that young people aged between 14 and 18 would not commit a further serious break-and-enter or car theft while on bail.
The teenagers could be held on remand if there was a suspicion they would offend again.
A 12-month sunset clause will apply to the overhaul, to allow the changes to be reviewed.
But shadow attorney-general Alister Henskens said the proposal didn't go far enough for younger offenders.
"Something needs to be done to address the 10 to 14 year olds," he told Sydney Radio 2GB on Wednesday.
"There's just a complete hole in this announcement on that age group."
Australian Associated Press
