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Canberra Today 14°/17° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

You can say anything with crime statistics

THE ACT Government and Opposition have demonstrated today that when it comes to statistics, it depends on how you look at them.

Zed-Seselja-SB7_7493-400x266
Zed Seselja
This morning, ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell was “happy to report” a decrease in assault, among other crime categories, over the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period last year.

This afternoon, shadow Attorney-General Zed Seselja has expressed concern about an “increase of violence in our community”, based on the same set of statistics, the Criminal Justice Statistical Profile for March.

Seselja has pointed out that 10 assaults causing grievous bodily harm were reported in the first quarter of this year, compared with 4 reported in the final quarter of last year.

“Whilst there have been improvements in some areas there are still significant areas of concern that need to be addressed. I am particularly concerned about the rise of violent offences in our community,” Mr Seselja said in a statement.

The shadow Attorney-General referred to a stabbing at the Belconnen bus interchange and an assault at Erindale McDonald’s which both “occurred in front of other members of the community” this year.

“The ACT Government needs to outline what strategies they will put in place to reduce the number of violent assaults,” Mr Seselja said.

All quaterly Criminal Justice Statistical Profiles are available at: http://www.justice.act.gov.au/criminal_and_civil_justice/criminal_justice_statistical_profiles

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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