Assaults on the rise: police

Assaults in Narrogin are on the rise, while drug offences seem set for a significant drop this financial year.

Data released by WA Police shows assaults on both family and non-family members are set to increase this financial year.

In the first six months of the 2018-19 financial year, 61 assaults on family members and 33 on non-family members have been recorded in Narrogin, compared with 74 and 54 respectively for the entire 2017-18 financial year.

However, if overall crime statistics from July to December last year continue their trend into the first six months of 2019, Narrogin will experience the largest yearly drop since numbers for individual towns or suburbs have been made available.

Drug-related offences have plummeted so far this financial year, with only 83 recorded compared with 310 in 2017-18.

Sexual offences have also experienced a significant drop so far this financial year, with four being recorded in the second half of 2018 compared to 42 in 2017-18.

Speaking to The Observer last year, Narrogin police Senior Sargent John Bouwan indicated the high number of sexual-related offences recorded for 2017-18 in Narrogin were largely because of historical crimes.

Burglaries, both dwelling and non-dwelling, are on track for a sharp decline this year.

Nearly 150 were recorded in Narrogin during 2017-18, compared with 45 between July and December last year.

Thefts of motor vehicles, property theft and graffiti are all on track for a fall in 2018-19.

Until December, only two motor vehicles were recorded as stolen in Narrogin compared with 13 for 2017-18, while 51 instances of property damage have been tallied this financial year, compared with 135 for 2017-18.

Stealing offences, however, are set to rise, with 103 instances recorded in the first six months of this financial year compared with 165 in 2017-18

Narrogin police declined to comment.