BOCSAR statistics reveal Wingecarribee sexual assault and domestic violence reports on the rise

There were 71 cases reported to police through the year to September 2022 in comparison to 48 through the year to September 2020.

This increase is even more significant in comparison to the 36 cases reported in the year through to September 2018 following a broader trend across NSW over the past five years.

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According to NSW BOCSAR, on average sexual assault reports were 25.9 per cent higher last year compared to five years ago. Domestic violence assault reports were also 13.1 per cent higher.

In Wingecarribee, there were 110 reports of domestic violence through the year to September 2022 in comparison to 79 through the year to September 2018.

BOCSAR Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald said while the increase over the past five years was concerning, the quantity of domestic violence reports was still at about half of the state average.

In regard to the increase in reports of sexual assault, Ms Fitzgerald said the numbers were "remarkable".

"The increase [in Wingecarribee] is higher than the state average, we've seen increases across the state but that's one of the largest," she said.

"It's possible that something happened like sometimes a person is found and then there's a whole lot of incidents associated with that person, but it also might just be whatever is driving the general increase is also driving that increase there.

"That could be an increased willingness to report or it could be an increase in prevalence but it's hard to say."

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The increase in reports of sexual assault in Wingecarribee comes as other criminal offences have declined or remained steady.

Incidents of theft declined by 18 per cent since September 2021 and drug offences declined by 33.5 per cent.

"That's also consistent with what we're seeing elsewhere," Ms Fitzgerald said.

"Crime fell during the pandemic and then it's just stayed low ever since, that seems to be a pattern that's happening in a number of communities, so it's nice to see that."

If this article has raised any issues for you, please reach out to 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service.

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