Youth crime drops: statistics boss says 'amazing' result for the west
Farren Hotham
20 December 2025, 8:40 PM
CEO of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Jackie Fitzgerald. [IMAGE: BOCSAR]New data shows youth crime in the western plains fell between October 2024 and September 2025.
"I think the Western Plains data is very good, even amazing," Bureau of Crime Statistics Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald told the Western Plains App.
“One of the most encouraging aspects of the recent decline in regional crime is the reduction in youth offending,” she said.
“Regional NSW recorded a 16% decline in youth charges over the past two years.
"This represents a welcome shift after several years of concern around youth crime, particularly in regional areas.”
It might come as some comfort for local leaders who have urged the NSW Premier Chris Minns to help, securing funding for diversionary activities ahead of these summer school holidays.
Making headway in major crime categories
New data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows that crime has declined across much of Regional NSW over the past two years, with improvements recorded in the majority of major offence categories.
In the two years to September 2025 NSW recorded significant declines in seven of the 13 major crime categories.
These statewide improvements are being driven by widespread and substantial falls across regional NSW.
Eight major offence categories have fallen in Regional NSW over the past two years, with none showing a significant increase.
The offences that have declined in Regional NSW include: non-domestic assault, robbery, break and enter, motor vehicle theft, malicious damage to property and stealing offences.
“Regional NSW typically experiences higher rates of crime, making these recent declines particularly important for community safety.," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"The latest figures suggest that some communities that have faced greater crime pressures are now seeing meaningful improvements.”
The areas with the largest declines were:
- Far West & Orana - significant falls in seven crime categories, with no increases
- Central West - significant falls in four crime categories, with no increases
Walgett is down 15.7% in theft over the two year period, Coonamble down 49.2% in same category.
Bourke is 6.2 % up against the state average in malicious damage also 8.4% assault.
Brewarrina’s rates stay high for assault 7.6% above the state average but Cobar and Lachlan are relatively stable.
| Two-year crime trends to September 2025 | |||
| Offence type | NSW | Greater Sydney | Regional NSW |
| Murder | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Domestic violence related assault | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | Down 4.0% | Stable | Down 3.5% |
| Sexual assault | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Sexual touching, other sex offences | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Robbery | Down 8.9% | Down 8.1% | Down 10.9% |
| Break and enter dwelling | Down 6.6% | Stable | Down 12.2% |
| Break and enter non-dwelling | Down 4.3% | Stable | Down 11.1% |
| Motor vehicle theft | Stable | Stable | Down 3.1% |
| Steal from motor vehicle | Down 7.0% | Down 4.0% | Down 10.4% |
| Steal from retail store | Up 7.7% | Up 12.1% | Stable |
| Other stealing offences | Down 2.7% | Stable | Down 6.8% |
| Malicious damage to property | Down 6.5% | Down 5.2% | Down 7.8% |
