Crime in South Australia continues to fall with the latest rolling crime data from SA Police revealing a three per cent overall reduction in offences.
This is the 17th consecutive reporting period to show a downward trend.
The February stats show the total number of property-related offences has decreased by four percent - or 3,989 - with reductions across most offence categories.
The figures reveal robbery offences have continued to fall, down 13 per cent – from 748 to 654.
Theft overall has dropped by five per cent – or 2,723 offences.
This includes Theft from Retail Premises, which decreased by 10% or 2,413 offences.
The Malinauskas Government has consistently acted to improve retail safety since coming to government with stronger penalties for assaulting retail and fast-food workers - including up to 7 years in jail - in effect.
We have also introduced the toughest knife laws in Australia including giving police the power to make shopping centres a declared place. This gives them the ability to conduct metal detector searches and is now in place in 16 shopping centres across SA.
The targeting of recidivist offenders has also been attributed to continuing reductions in property-related crime with the Productivity Commission's Report on Government Services showing South Australia's recidivism rate has fallen to 36.8 per cent, well below the national average of 53.6 per cent.
The data also reflects the success the state has had with recruiting police, with the report showing South Australia sitting second in the country for the number of operational staff per 100,000 people.
The report shows SAPOL has 295 operational sworn staff per 100,000 people – the second highest of any state and higher than the national average of 264.
It follows record applications to join police – 3,050 people from across Australia and overseas, compared to fewer than 1,000 in 2018-19 under the former Liberal Government.
As put by Michael Brown
I'm glad to see the continued reduction in crime across South Australia.
The Malinauskas Government has acted consistently to reduce crime including improving retail safety with stronger penalties of up to 7 years in jail for assaulting retail workers.
We have also given police the power to make shopping centres a declared place and it's great to see that is having an impact.
SAPOL do a fantastic job and their targeting of recidivist offenders continues to improve safety in our community.
There is more work to do, which is why we are increasing the number of police and police security officers and investing in crime prevention programs, better police facilities and modernised equipment.
