State Member for Pine Rivers, Carolyn Male MP, today said the 3% reduction in the overall crime rate for Queensland in 2008/09 was testament to the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the Queensland Police Service.

Carolyn Male MP said the decrease in crime rates over the previous year, revealed in the Queensland Police Service Annual Statistical Review, continues an eight-year downward trend.

“In the past eight years under Labor, the overall crime rate has dropped 26%,” Carolyn Male MP said.

“Our local police work very hard at keeping our community safe and I am very pleased to see overall crime in the Metropolitan North Region has decreased by eight per cent”.

“We have also seen falls in the number of offences against the person and property related offences, including:

• 6% drop in the rate of assaults
• 31% decrease in robbery offences detected in 2008/09
• 17% drop in rate of break-ins. The rate of home break-ins decreased by 6%, the rate of shop break-ins decreased by 46% and the rate of break-ins to other premises fell by 15 %
• Unlawful use of motor vehicles dropped by 23% from 196 offences to 156 offences.

“In recent years we have seen increases in the rate of sexual offences,” Carolyn Male MP said.

“For our local area the decrease in other sexual offences was 8%, however rape and attempted rape offences recorded in an increase of 7%.”

“Like all members of the community I am troubled by the increase in rape and attempted rape offences, but police are working proactively to reduce this trend.”

“Police are committed to reducing crime and the fact the crime rate in Queensland is continuing its downward path is indicative of this.”

“The Bligh Government has delivered a record police budget of $1.706 billion this year. We are providing more police and equipping them to do the job.”

“The Government’s continued commitment to boosting the number of police officers on the front line, which has seen police numbers increase by 51% since 1998, has also strongly influenced crime trends as there are more police on the beat.”

“As the local member I will continue fighting for more police resources to ensure our local community remains a great place to live and raise a family.”