The latest crime statistics from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), released Wednesday March 18, show a significant increase in adult court proceedings despite crime rates being largely stable.
Of the 13 major crime categories, eight were stable over the past two years to December 2025 and three declined significantly. Only two increased, with shoplifting incidents up 9.3%, while willingness to report sexual assault contributed to a 7.9% increase in that offence.
While crime is mostly stable or down, NSW Police initiated 7.9% more adult court proceedings in 2025 compared with 2024. Much of this growth is due to more domestic violence legal actions, which rose 9.8% and accounted for around one‑third of the overall increase in adult court proceedings.
“The growing number of domestic violence charges reflects both an increase in domestic violence offences recorded by Police and a higher likelihood of charges being laid when these matters come to police attention,” said Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of BOCSAR.
“In 2025 NSW Police recorded a record number of domestic violence-related intimidation stalking and harassment offences (25,393), along with breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (26,063). The offence of coercive control remains much less common but continues to grow, with 326 offences recorded in 2025”.
More domestic violence incidents are also progressing to court, even where incident numbers have not increased. For domestic violence related assaults, the share of incidents resulting in a charge rose from 65.7% to 69.4% over the past year. The higher charging rate led to a 9.5% increase in court actions for domestic violence assault, despite stable incident numbers. As a result, the number of adult alleged offenders proceeded against for domestic violence offences reached a record high of 45,984 in 2025, accounting for more than one in four adult court proceedings in NSW.
“The rise in domestic violence legal actions does not appear to reflect increased prevalence, but rather increased police enforcement and proactive detection. This is supported by other indicators, including stable hospitalisations, domestic violence‑related homicide numbers and crime victimisation survey results.”
Youth crime remains stable, with encouraging regional declines
In contrast, the number of court proceedings initiated by police towards young people remained stable in the two years to December 2025.
“The flat rate of legal actions suggests that youth crime has remained stable across NSW,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“In Regional NSW, however, youth offending is falling. Youth court actions fell by 13.7% in regional areas over the past two years, with particularly strong reductions in the Far West and Orana (down 31.0%), Illawarra (down 34.8%) and New England and North West (down 18.2%).”
Trends in the 13 major crime categories
Two-year crime trends to December 2025
Local Data: rise in assaults
The estimated resident population of the Northern Beaches Council area in 2024 is 270,772, with a density of 1,065 persons per square kilometre. The area experienced growth from the 2021 Census figure of 263,554.
The population is projected to grow to over 300,000 by 2046.
The data from BOSCAR's March 2025 Crime statistics by LGA records a rise in Domestic violence related assault and sexual assault, and a slight decrease in Non-domestic violence related assault.
Domestic violence related assault was 443 incidents in 2025, up from 337 in 2024 - 163.6 per per 100,00 of the population.
There were 213 Breach Apprehended Violence Order incidents in 2025, up from 192 in 2024.
Non-domestic violence related assault was 204.6 per 100,00 of the population, compared to 216.0 in 2024. There were 443 incidents in 2025, 337 in 2024.
Sexual assault has risen to 79.8 per 100,00, compared to 64.6 in 2024. There were 216 reported assaults in 2025, 175 in 2024.
Sexual touching, sexual act and other sexual offences is 59.8, and was 62.8 in 2024, but there were still 162 incidents - 170 in 2024.
Intimidation, stalking and harassment incidents have risen to 581 in 2025. There were 535 in 2024.
Break and enter dwelling has dropped, 62.0 per 100,00 of the population in 2025, and 168 incidents. It was 89.4 and 242 in 2024.
Break and enter non-dwelling is 38.8 per 100,00 of the population, down from 52.1.
Motor vehicle theft was 55.4 in 2025, accounting for 150 incidents and 76.1 per 100,00 of the population in 2024, or 206 incidents of car theft.
Steal from motor vehicle was 130.4 per 100,00 of the population in 2025 and 353 incidents, down from 171.0 in 2024 and 463 incidents.
Steal from retail store accounted for 525 incidents in 2025, compared to 657 in 2024.
Other stealing offences is recorded at 681 incidents, down from 830 in 2024.
Malicious damage to property records 676 incidents in 2025, down from the 766 recorded in 2024.
There were 925 incidents of Fraud in 2025, 1,027 in 2024.
Drug offences record 112 incidents for the Possession and/or use of cannabis and 10 for Dealing, trafficking in cannabis, 56 for Possession and/or use of amphetamines, 50 for Possession and/or use of other drugs and 24 for Dealing, trafficking in cocaine.
If you or anyone you know needs help, please contact:
- 1800 RESPECT national helpline on 1800 737 732
- Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028
- Bravehearts (support for child sexual abuse survivors) on 1800 272 831
- Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380
- Lifeline (24 hour crisis line) on 131 114