NSW Minister for Police Yasmin Catley says while BOCSAR’s new data show there has been progress, there is still more work to do. Photo: Yasmin Catley MP Facebook.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to sexual and family violence.
South East NSW has seen a seven per cent increase in reported cases of sexual assault over the past decade, although types of other offences decreased over that time.
The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) examined the number of crimes that were recorded by police when it released its latest quarterly update.
The Capital Region covers South East NSW and includes the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Goulburn Mulwaree, Queanbeyan-Palerang and Snowy Monaro shires.
The statistics say violent crimes in this region increased 2.3 per cent while property offences decreased by 3.5 per cent over the 10 years to June 2025.
The region also saw a 22.3 per cent decrease in break and enters during the two years to June.
Over the 12 months to June 2025, the Capital Region had 962 domestic violence-related assaults, 821 non-domestic violence assaults, 339 sexual assaults, 269 other sexual offences, 11 robberies, 365 break and enters into homes, 318 vehicle thefts and 617 retail store thefts.
Fortunately, there were no murders during this period.
The statistics show the numbers of crimes in almost all of these categories, except for other sexual offences, were down when compared to the previous 12 months.
During the year to June 2024, the region had two murders, 1023 domestic violence-related assaults, 935 non-domestic violence assaults, 379 sexual assaults, 257 other sexual offences, 24 robberies, 470 break and enters into homes, 358 vehicle thefts and 686 retail store thefts.
For specific shires, the most notable drops in crime were in the Eurobodalla and Goulburn over the two years to June 2025.
There was a 42.4 per cent decrease in vehicle theft and a 19.7 per cent drop in break and enters into homes in the Eurobodalla, while Goulburn Mulwaree saw a 29.5 per cent drop in domestic violence-related assaults.
However, over the decade to June 2025, the region saw a 7.4 per cent increase in reported sexual assault, a 2.8 per cent rise in domestic violence-related assaults and a 2.5 per cent increase in motor vehicle theft.
With regards to reported sexual assault cases, there were 53 in the Bega Valley, 57 in both the Eurobodalla and Goulburn Mulwaree, 78 in Queanbeyan-Palerang and 35 in the Snowy Monaro in the 12 months to June 2025.
When it came to cases of domestic violence-related assault, there were 106 in the Bega Valley, 218 in the Eurobodalla, 141 in Goulburn Mulwaree, 256 in Queanbeyan-Palerang and 63 in the Snowy Monaro during this time.
In a statement, NSW Minister for Police Yasmin Catley and Attorney-General Michael Daley said BOCSAR’s update showed property-related offences in regional NSW had dropped by 8.9 per cent over the past two years to July 2025.
Across regional NSW, crimes such as break and enters, robbery, stealing from cars and malicious damage all decreased by at least seven per cent.
“While these numbers suggest progress, we know they do not tell the whole story,” Ms Catley and Mr Daley said.
“People in many regional communities continue to feel unsafe in their homes.
“We understand that these statistics offer little comfort to those who have been victims of crime and those who feel vulnerable and scared.”
They noted a review of doli incapax, the legal presumption of incapacity to understand wrongdoing, for children aged under 14 was underway.
The review is led by former Supreme Court justice Geoffrey Bellew SC and former deputy commissioner of NSW Police Jeff Loy APM.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732 or by visiting www.1800respect.org.au. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on 02 6280 0900, Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero. You can report a sexual assault by attending an ACT Policing station in person, calling 000 in an emergency or 131 444 for police assistance, or online if the sexual assault occurred more than six months ago.
