Crime drop in Redfern 'random'

The head of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Don Weatherburn, said there was no evidence in long term crime statistics for a drop in crime in the area.

The Premier, Kristina Keneally, had yesterday attributed the drop in crime from 2008 to 2009, as well as greater employment and rising house prices in the Redfern Waterloo area, to a government renewal strategy for the area in partnership with Aboriginal elders.

She said police statistics had shown that robbery offences by young Aborigines fell by 80 per cent in one year, while all offences by indigenous people of all ages had dropped by 15.1 per cent in the same time.

But Dr Weatherburn said the long term trend of Aboriginal crime in Redfern was up. Figures obtained by the Herald show that last year 819 Aboriginal people were charged by Redfern police - the second highest figure in twelve years, and significantly higher than the low of 531 four years ago.

Robbery offences had fallen substantially, Dr Weatherburn said, but the drop was because of an unusually large number of robberies in the previous year and there was no significant drop in this crime since 2006.

But Ms Keneally had thanked police and the community leaders for their "tireless work" and said: "The State Government's long-term plan to turn around crime, education, employment and improve living conditions in Redfern and Waterloo is working, but there is still more to be done."

Source: www.smh.com.au/nsw/crime-drop-in-redfern-random-20100216-o34t.html