Are crime rates in Western Sydney really out of control? > Check the facts
Who: “Under Labor crime is out of control in Western Sydney” Liberal party facebook page.
The claim: Crime has increased under the Labor government and is now out of control.
The facts: Crime in Western Sydney is not out of control, it has remained stable or reduced in the last five years. Furthermore, street crime is not the responsibility of the federal government.
Discussion of evidence: Although the Australian government has undertaken initiatives to reduce crime in Australia, the primary responsibility for street crime rests upon the states and territories. It is their constitutional responsibility to maintain order and protect individuals.
Furthermore, crime in Western Sydney is not out of control under Labor. In the past five years while Labor has been in power, crime in Western Sydney has either reduced or remained stable. In no area of Western Sydney has crime increased, as can be seen in the table below.
Violent offences over the 60 months to March 2013:
| Metropolitan Statistical Subdivision | Annual % change over the last 2 years | Annual % change over the last 5 years | |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | Stable | Stable | |
| Fairfield-Liverpool | Stable | Stable | |
| Outer South Western Sydney | Stable | -5.5% | |
| Inner Western Sydney | Stable | -6.4% | |
| Central Western Sydney | Stable | Stable | |
| Outer Western Sydney | Stable | Stable |
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