Over the past two years, the Newcastle Local Government Area has had an alleged murder rate five times the state average, according to data from the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
From January 2021 to December 2022, there were nine alleged murders in the Newcastle LGA, according to BOCSAR's crime mapping tool.
In the same period, across all of NSW there were 110 alleged murders and Newcastle accounted for just over 8 per cent of them.
When the LGA's alleged murder rate is compared to the state's average, a cluster begins to emerge.
In 2021, Newcastle's alleged murder rate was five times greater than the state's average, and more than three times the state's average in 2022.
Newcastle alleged murders |
NSW alleged murders |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rate per 100,000 people |
Total |
Rate per 100,000 people |
Total |
||
2021 |
3 |
5 |
0.6 |
52 |
|
2020 |
2.4 |
4 |
0.7 |
58 |
|
A 'cluster' but not gang-related
BOSCAR executive director Jackie Fitzgerald confirmed the spike in alleged Newcastle murders but noted that none of the deaths appeared to be gang-related.
"It does seem to be a particularly bad couple of years for Newcastle with regards to murder," she said.
"It appears that there is a range of different circumstances and, of course, all [died in] tragic circumstances."
"[There were alleged] altercations between men — which is a reasonably common murder scenario — friends and acquaintances. And a few domestic-violence-related murders."
The statistics indicate a localised cluster, Ms Fitzgerald says.
"It does seem like a very unfortunate string of isolated incidents," she said.
"When you add it up, it does count to a cluster.
"It's disproportionate for a small government area."
Police resources stretched
When an alleged murder happens in NSW, a dedicated strike force is allocated and local detectives liaise with officers from the homicide squad in Sydney.
Vice President of the Police Association of NSW Ian Allwood said the cluster added a "heavy workload" and Newcastle officers have been feeling the strain.
"I think right across the state, right across the spectrum, police officers are generally feeling the strain," he said.
"It also highlights the hard and complex work that police officers do in investigating these matters."
The homicide squad stands ready to provide resources when needed, Sergeant Allwood says.
"They do help. And certainly, within the first 24 hours within the regional areas, we do have access to those experts," he said.
The ABC sought comment from the Newcastle City Local Area Commander, Superintendent Kylie Endemi.
A spokesperson said police were "unable to comment, to avoid speculation on any perceived trends".
