The latest crime statistics show a significant improvement in South Australia’s safety, with a 20 per cent decrease in robbery and related offences. This positive trend extends across all categories of theft and robbery, indicating an outstanding reduction in criminal activities across the state.
The rolling yearly data to January reveals that shop theft has declined for the third consecutive time, achieving a further reduction of five per cent. This data represents nearly 1,000 fewer reported offences compared to previous figures.
This downward trend in shop theft comes in the wake of the scaled-up anti-shoplifting initiative, Operation Measure. Last month, the program saw an additional eight officers added to its team. This expansion is part of a larger effort by the Malinauskas Labor Government which invested $82 million into introducing 189 Police Security Officers, who are replacing sworn officers in frontline roles, such as custody management.
The statistics also show a continued reduction in house break-ins, marking the seventh consecutive decrease with a five percent drop over the year. Car thefts have decreased by 12 per cent, and thefts from vehicles have seen an even larger reduction of 20 per cent. There has also been a dramatic decrease in murder rates, halving from 22 to 11 reported offences.
Overall, offences against persons or property have seen a three per cent decrease in the year to January.
Stephen Mullighan MP Treasurer, Minister for Police stated, “These results show that the Malinauskas Labor Government’s more than $330 million investment in SA Police since the State Election is paying off.
“By enabling SAPOL to return 70 officers to frontline roles through funding more Police Security Officers, police are able to direct resources where they’re most needed.
“It’s pleasing to see boosting the number of officers deployed to Operation Measure is already having a significant impact on the incidence of shop theft.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner John De Candia of SA Police added, “The assistance from the retail industry is also a contributing factor and we anticipate that with the recently announced boost in resources for Operation Measure the environment for shop thieves will become even more difficult.”
These improvements in safety statistics reflect a broader commitment to community and business safety by both the government and law enforcement agencies. The continued investment in policing resources and community partnerships is set to maintain, if not enhance, these positive trends in public safety across South Australia.
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