New statistics reveal rates of domestic violence and theft have increased in the Shoalhaven region.
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The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research released the quarterly update for March 2019 on June 6.
In the Shoalhaven district domestic violence was up 28.2 per cent, sexual assault was down 40.4 per cent and stealing from a dwelling had increased 19.6 per cent in the 12 months leading up to March 2019.
District Inspector David Cockram put the increase in domestic violence related assault down to the NSW Police Force's "push to encourage reporting".
Inspector Cockram said there was a strong legislation push towards police charging perpetrators and for AVOs to be processed within two weeks.
"Family violence is taken very seriously by the South Coast Police District," Inspector Cockram said.
"We have all manner of means to protect people."
There were 445 incidents of domestic violence related assault occurred compared to 347 in the 2018 report.
Sixty-eight cases of sexual assault were recorded compared to 114 in the previous year and 250 incidents of theft from a dwelling were reported with 209 the year before.
With the introduction of Domestic Violence Evidence in Chief (DVEC) and police-worn body cameras Inspector Cockram said more evidence was readily available.
Under the DVEC scheme, police officers can record video statements at the earliest possible time following an alleged domestic violence incident. The video can then be used as evidence in court.
"[Domestic violence] is very high on our priority list," Inspector Cockram said.
"Our job is to protect life and property."
The report revealed there had been 807 counts of malicious damage to property in the lead up to March 2019.
State-wide in the 24 months to March 2019, the number of murders in NSW increased 39.6 per cent, the number of recorded domestic assaults increased by six per cent and the number of indecent assaults and acts of indecency rose by 5.8 per cent. The other 14 categories of crime remained stable