The number of police officers being assaulted while on duty has risen sharply in South Australia, the latest crime statistics have revealed.
The November rolling year crime statistics also reveal continuing decreases in break-ins, theft from retail premises and car theft and related offences.
The rolling year figures reveal a 21 per cent increase in the number of assaults against police officers – from 594 to 721 offences – or 127 incidents. The increase is the third successive rise in such offences.
The number of serious assaults in the period decreased by two per cent – from 16,658 to 16,326 offences – or 332 fewer incidents.
Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations Service) John De Candia said the increase in assaults against police was concerning and totally unacceptable.
"Police officers who are simply doing their job and protecting the community should not be subject to violent acts that often leave them with lasting injuries,'' he said.
"There are significant penalties in place - including imprisonment - for assaulting not just police officers, but other emergency service workers also serving the community.''
The rolling year figures reveal robbery, blackmail and extortion offences decreased by seven per cent - from 730 to 677 reported incidents – a decrease of 53 offences.
Within that category the number of reported robbery offences declined by four per cent – from 493 to 474 offences – a decrease of 19 incidents.
Theft overall decreased by eight per cent in the period – from 58,061 to 53,380 reported offences – or 4,681 fewer incidents.
Within that category theft from retail premises declined by 14 per cent – from 25,471 to 21,832 offences. Fuel theft is now recorded in this category under updated recording and reporting changes.
The number of reported residential break-ins has continued to decline with a 12 per cent decrease reported in the period - from 6,198 to 5,470 incidents - or 728 fewer offences reported. Non-residential break-ins declined by seven per cent – from 3,690 to 3,423 reported offences – or 267 fewer incidents.
Motor vehicle theft and related incidents also continued to drop with a successive five per cent decline reported – from 15,314 to 14,560 offences – or 754 fewer incidents.
The rolling year figures reveal the number of sexual offences reported decreased by three per cent - from 2,709 to 2,637 offences – or 72 fewer incidents. Within that category aggravated sexual assault increased by one per cent or 16 incidents, non-aggravated sexual assault decreased by 16 per cent or 85 incidents and child abuse material offences rose by 11 per cent or 24 offences.
On 1 July SAPOL updated crime recording and reporting systems to align with a new crime coding change required by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This has resulted in changes to the look of the published crime tables that include Person and Property offences and the display of other offences categories to ensure a nationally consistent approach to reporting crime. However, ABS counting rules have not changed.
