Statistics from the NSW Bureau of Crime show over three-quarters of
property crimes in Redfern are committed by offenders from other suburbs
visiting services, friends or relatives in the area.
Colin Campbell, from the Australian Institute of Criminology, said:
“With acquisitive property crime it is very unusual that [the offender]
is not from the neighbourhood.”
Mr Campbell said an offender committing property crime usually lives within two kilometres of the target.
The Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan March 2004 report revealed
Redfern’s recidivist offenders and drug supply may be attracting
offenders from other suburbs into the area.
But Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
(BOSCAR), Don Weatherburn, said: “Drugs may be an attraction but the
drug market in Redfern has shrunk dramatically over the last ten years.”
Dr Weatherburn said it is likely offenders are from surrounding neighbourhoods which are walking distance from Redfern.
“Many may go through Redfern to catch the train, go shopping or hang out.”
Spokesperson for Redfern community group REDWatch, Geoffrey Turnbull,
said public facilities also bring people from other suburbs into
Redfern.
“[There is] a number of Aboriginal services that operate in the area
and there are people who come into Redfern to meet up with family.”
Offenders may not be coming to Redfern to commit crimes but opportunities crop up once they arrive.
Centre Manager of the Designing Out Crime research centre, Rodger
Watson, said: “Property crimes are often of an opportunistic nature.”
BOCSAR counts break and enter, stealing, motor vehicle theft and fraud as property crimes when conducting their statistics.
According to the Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Plan report, high
density of housing plans in Redfern gives residents and visitors easy
access to a large number of premises in the suburb. This therefore
provides an increased opportunity for crime.
Mr Turnbull said: “A lot of crime that’s taking place is taking place in units.”
Dr Weatherburn said surrounding industrial and residential areas may also increase the opportunity for crime.
“There may be more opportunity for retail theft, stealing from a motor vehicle and stealing motor vehicles in Redfern.”
The Redfern Brand Study Report conducted by REDWatch found the perception of Redfern was still negative, although changing:
“The perception of Redfern . . . may be quite fluid, with
expectations of continuing enhancement or improvement,” the report
wrote.
Mr Turnbull said Redfern residents have worked hard to clean up the image of their suburb.
“There has been a significant change in Redfern. There is lots of resilience in the community.”
By Una Butorac
Source: www.altmedia.net.au/42179/42179