Rural Crime and Safety

Rural Crime and Safety in Western Australia

    This preliminary study is the first detailed examination of police statistics on a regional basis. Regional crime patterns are different from Metropolitan patterns, different from each other and different within Regions. Precise law enforcement and crime prevention needs have never been identified in sufficient details, taking account of such differences. Nothing is known about the attitudes of rural populations to crime and safety, their own perceptions and fears.

    The data set out above relate only to one year - 1996. The patterns require monitoring for at least a further two years before one can reliably identity trends. The unique mapping methodology utilised in this report are integral to such an undertaking.

    The unexpected results have been produced - for example, in relation to crime rates in rural towns, as to the relative vulnerability of women to crimes of violence, as to the distribution of drug offences and generally as to the very large differences between Regions in overall crime rates. Nothing has been logged or explained in ways which would enable the Regions to benefit from the experience of other regions; in crime as in so many other matters the Perth situation is still the principal measuring rod.

    The study was conducted by Professor Richard Harding, Frank Morgan, Anna Ferrante, Nini Loh and John Fernandez and was commissioned by the Regional Development Council as part of its ongoing commitment to improving community understanding or regional social and economic issues and contributing to the development of effective responses.

To obtain a paper copy, please contact Regional Development Council, C/O The Department of Commerce and Trade, 168-170 St George's Tce, Perth  WA 6000. Phone (08) 9327 5666, Fax: (08) 9327 5481 Freecall 1800 628 767 (for country callers)