Numbers of most major crimes remained steady or declined slightly for the reporting period, which covers the two years until December 2013.

Throughout NSW the incidence of two types of offences increased across the state. 

They were fraud (up 13.2 per cent) and indecent assault, act of indecency and other sexual offences (up 7.8%).

A large proportion of the increase in indecent assault, act of indecency and other sexual offences has come from an increase in reports by child victims and investigations related to ongoing inquiries into institutional child abuse.

Unlike previous years, the rise in fraud is mainly due to unauthorised use of credit cards, rather than failing to pay for fuel at service stations.

Recorded incidents of failing to pay for petrol fell markedly in the final four months of 2013. 

The fall is likely because of a change in police policy rather than an actual fall in the incidence of the offence.

Since September 1, 2013, service stations have been required to report petrol theft by fax. 

Recorded incidents of this offence dropped sharply after September 1. 

Senior police said the Local Area Command had recorded falls in the number of home break and enters and stealing from motor vehicle offences because of a combination of factors.

“We’re primarily very happy with the drop in offences, particularly the drop in break and enters,” Detective Inspector Steve Clarke said.

He said police efforts to engage the community had proved successful, and it was the combined effort of the two groups working together that was making the area safer.

“We still get a lot of assistance from the public out there in solving these crimes,” he said. 

He pointed to the preventative work done by the Mid North Coast Crime Management Unit (CMU) to educate home-owners and reduce risk. 

The message about vigilance around the home, he said, was starting to get through to more residents. 

And when people start prioritising their own safety it rubs off on others.

The CMU’s Senior Constable Steve Cherry said analysis must take into account that demographic profiles vary greatly between parts of the Mid North Coast. 

“Things can be pretty different just around the corner or down the road,” he said.

His comments were echoed by Detective Inspector Clarke, who said the bureau’s latest data needs to be understood in the wider context of modern police work.

Additional statistical analysis and regular internal assessment are also used to monitor police progress, he said.