All major crime categories have remained stable or continue to fall in Young except for sexual assaults according to the latest crime data released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR).
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Young is in line with the Statewide trend, with crime either stable or falling.
But the news was not all good. Young had 65 reports of domestic violence related assault over the 12 months to June 2017, slightly down from 68 in 2016 and 25 reported sexual assaults over the 12 months to June 2017, up from 11 in 2016.
Cootamundra LAC Superintendent Christopher Schilt sought to assure the public the rise in figures was no cause for alarm.
"One domestic violence incident is one too many in our book and it is still a problem that we are trying to tackle," he said.
“But I’d like to point out that the sexual assault figures were mainly comprised of historical offences. Police encourage victims to feel comfortable to report these incidents with a knowledge that they will be investigated and allow officers to provide assistance with referral to the necessary support services.
“It wasn't the case that these types of offences were occurring randomly and there was a threat to public safety. Police will always be on the front foot with providing public information if there was an increased threat of offences taking place.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said proactive and whole-of-government initiatives have changed the way offenders and communities respond to domestic violence.
Young had 167 reports of malicious damage to property reported over the 12 months to June 2017.
Young police have been focusing on retail theft and whilst a spike in reported incidents occurred last quarter the initiative appears to have paid off with a significant drop in steal from retail store reports.
Young had 36 steal from a retail store incidents reported over the 12 months to June 2017.
Superintendent Schilt said the figures show Young is a safe community that has a proactive police force.
"The figures in ‘steal from retail’ incidents reflects local police being proactive in our retail operations," he said.
“Our commitment is putting the community first and ensuring our police have the structure and support behind them to continue preventing, disrupting and responding to crime.”