New South Wales sees highest murder rate in a decade

New South Wales has seen its highest number of murders in a decade, with 85 reported in 2024. This marks a significant increase of 46.5% compared to 2023, when there were 58 murders. The last time the number was this high was in 2014 when there were 93 murders. Of the 85 murder victims last year, 46 were men, 26 were women, and 13 were young people or children. The increase includes all categories of homicides, especially those related to domestic violence. Jackie Fitzgerald, the head of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, described the rise as "unusually high" and concerning. Domestic violence-related murders accounted for nearly 46% of all murders in 2024. Delia Donovan, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, emphasized the critical need for more funding for domestic violence services. She argued that more investment is vital to help end violence and save lives. Additionally, there were eight incidents involving multiple murders, affecting 22 individuals. This reflects an increasing trend in violent incidents, particularly linked to domestic situations. The eastern suburbs of Sydney reported the highest number of murders, with nine fatalities. A particularly tragic incident was a mass stabbing at Bondi Junction in April, where six people were killed. Despite the alarming figures, Fitzgerald noted that spikes in murder rates can occur sporadically. She reassured that there is no clear trend indicating ongoing increases in murder rates. Other crime categories have not seen significant rises, with some types, like vehicle theft, even decreasing. However, domestic violence assaults and sexual assaults have shown steady increases over the last decade.