17 May, 2021
Crime statistics for Clifton area revealed
Data from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has revealed the nature of crime in Clifton and surrounds over the last twelve months.
In the year from 4 May 2020 to 3 May 2021 there were 96 offences recorded in the Clifton QPS Division, which covers Clifton as well as Pilton, Nobby, Ryeford, Back Plains and Felton South.
This is the area for which the Clifton Police Station has jurisdiction.
The figures equate to one offence occurring every four days.
Sixty-one of the offences occurred in Clifton itself.
The most common crimes recorded are drug offences, with a total of 30 comprising close to a third of all offences.
Senior Constable Tyson Morris from the Clifton Police Station said the high proportion of crimes from drug related offences is due to vigilant community reporting and successful police surveillance.
The second most common type of crime was Good Order Offences, at 20.
Senior Constable Morris explained that this includes charges such as public nuisance and intoxicated persons coming and going from licensed premises.
“There is a zero tolerance policy for that type of behaviour in the community,” he said.
Next on the list was 11 instances of traffic and related offences and of 9 other theft, which excludes unlawful entry.
In Nobby, 8 of the 18 crimes recorded in the last year were drug offences.
The most crimes occurred on Saturdays, at 19, and the least on Mondays, at 8.
June 2020 and January 2021 were the worst months for crime, with 13 crimes occurring in each month.
The best months were October 2020 and April 2021 with 3 crimes each.
During the times where there are no urgent matters to attend, Senior Constable Morris said there is still plenty for the police to do.
“We are involved in community engagement activities, talking to schools and the general public, offer services in the community and traffic enforcement.
He also said Clifton Police help out neighbouring divisions when possible.
“The open border policing we do is not reflected in the statistics,” he said.
Compared to last year, the overall number of offences was down slightly from 103 to 96.
Drug offences were up by 5 and good order offences by 7.
Traffic and related incidents were down by 15, a 236 per cent drop.
Senior Constable Morris provided multiple reasons for the drop.
“The trend is generally downward due to COVID reducing travel including interstate travel,” he said.
The other reason is the introduction of the QLiTE app and the public becoming used to it.
Senior Constable Morris said the QLiTE app allows police, among other things, to instantly check the registration of a car and if it has been stolen.
This caused a rise in traffic and related offences which have dropped after the public has become accustomed to the change.
