WA Police statistics reveals drop in overall offending across major centres in Margaret River region in 2023

Major centres in the Margaret River region have bucked a trend to experience a drop of crime in 2023. WA Police statistics analysed by the Augusta-Margaret River Times shows Margaret River experienced a 17.4 per cent decrease in overall offending last year compared to 2022 levels. The decrease was led a 71.1 per cent drop in drug offences following a spike in 2022. Decreases were also reported in dwelling and non-dwelling burglaries, graffiti and stealing offences. Declines were not universal across the board, however, with a 64 per cent rise in family assaults recorded. Sexual offences rose by 35.7 per cent, while non-family assaults increased slightly. Augusta continued its downward trend in offending after a significant spike in 2021, with a 13.6 per cent overall decrease recorded in the town last year. An absence of fraud or graffiti offences in 2023 were the main reason for the drop, and stealing offences were down by a third. The decreases helped balance increases in offending in other categories, with drug crimes increasing 166 per cent and family assaults increasing 250 per cent on 2022 figures. Family assaults also increased slightly. Overall offending in Cowaramup dropped 16 per cent following a spike during 2022. Property damage crime fell by two-thirds, while stealing offences dropped 57.1 per cent. Six sexual offences were recorded in the town after none were reported in 2022, with Cowaramup also experiencing its first robbery offence since data began being published in 2015. Offending in most other categories remained stable. The total amount of crime in Gracetown rose from six to 10, while Witchcliffe saw offending rising sharply for a second year in a row. The increases were due to crimes in categories where offending has not been reported in more than two years, including assaults. A rise in drug offences from one to eight in Karridale saw its overall offending increase by 76.9 per cent during 2018. Gnarabup saw total offences more than double from three to seven following a historically quiet 2022, while nearby Prevelly experienced its best result since 2018 with only one charge each of family assault, property damage and graffiti recorded.