Byron Bay Crime Index

6

(100 is safest)

Safer than 6% of most Australia suburbs

Byron Bay Crime Map

Byron Bay crime map

Byron Bay Crime Statistics at a Glance

The chart below shows the 60-month trend of the number of offences that occurred in Byron Bay.

60-month trend of criminal incidents across Byron Bay
  • The number of criminal incidents recorded by NSW Police in the year 2021 was 1575, down 18% from 1932 incidents recorded in the same period last year.
  • Byron Bay is in the 6th percentile for safety, meaning 94% of NSW suburbs are safer than Byron Bay and 6% of suburbs are more dangerous than Byron Bay.
  • The number of assault offences recorded in 2021 decreased by 18% (32 Incidents) compared to the previous year..
  • The number of sexual offences recorded in 2021 increased by 19% (5 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • There were no homicide offences recorded during the years 2020 and 2021.
  • The number of burglary offences recorded in 2021 decreased by 20% (13 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • The number of theft offences recorded in 2021 decreased by 22% (93 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • The number of robbery offences recorded in 2021 decreased by 20% (1 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • The number of motor vehicle thefts recorded in 2021 decreased by 32% (13 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
  • There was no change in the number of vandalism offences (Property damage) recorded during the years 2020 and 2021.

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Crime in Byron Bay: An In-Depth Analysis

Based on the latest crime statistics from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, AU Crime Rate’s analysis indicates that Byron Bay is safer than only 6% of all suburbs across the nation, regardless of population size. This implies that Byron Bay’s crime rate is considerably higher than the average across most suburbs in Australia.

How does Byron Bay perform compared to other suburbs of all population sizes in NSW? The crime rate in Byron Bay is greater than that of roughly 94% of other suburbs in NSW, leading to low public safety scores.

As a resident of Byron Bay, the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 7 based on the combined crime rate of offences against the person and property. This is in contrast to the New South Wales average, where the chance of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 20.

To get a more comprehensive understanding of Byron Bay’s crime statistics, it is essential to take a closer look at its against the person and property crime data. This examination is particularly critical because it enables us to determine whether violent crime, property crime, or both are the primary contributors to the total crime rate in Byron Bay. By doing so, we can gain a more in-depth insight into the nature and extent of crime in Byron Bay.

AU Crime Rate’s analysis has uncovered that the rate of crimes against the person in Byron Bay is 4225 per one hundred thousand inhabitants. By contrast, the statewide average for such crimes stands at 1500. This suggests that experiencing serious offences like homicide, assault, sexual offences, robbery, abduction, kidnapping, stalking, blackmail, or extortion is 1 in 23 if you reside in Byron Bay.

Our data reveals that the odds of becoming a victim of property crime in Byron Bay are 1 in 11, with a rate of 8085 incidents per 100,000 residents. Keep in mind that the NSW average is 3158 incidents per 100,000 residents. The types of property crimes tracked in this analysis include theft, burglary, arson, and malicious damage to property.

Looking to understand the various types of criminal offences in New South Wales and make sense of crime data? Check out our NSW crime glossary for easy-to-understand definitions of common criminal offences.

Byron Bay Crime Rates by Offences Division

DivisionNumber of CrimesCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Crimes against the person2674225
Property and deception offences5118085
Drug offences1592516
Public order and security offences1171851
Justice procedures offences1422247
Other offences3795997
Total157524921

Byron Bay Crimes Against the Person

My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Crime Against the Person

1 in 23

In Byron Bay

1 in 65

In NSW

Crimes Against the Person Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Violent crimes against the person in Byron Bay vs New South Wales in Australia

Crimes Against the Person: Byron Bay vs NSW

Byron Bay population: 6320

NSW population: 8058541

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsNSW Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)NSW Crime Rate (per 100,000 residents)
Homicide07201
Assault150628642373770
Sexual offences3214650506179
Robbery417606322
Abduction and kidnapping1203163
Blackmail and Extortion012702
Intimidation, stalking and harassment78409101234501
Other offences against the person218833223

Here is a breakdown of the major crimes against the person (violent crimes) including the number of offences and Byron Bay crime rates for the selected offences.

CrimesNo. of offencesRate
Murder00
Sexual assault14222
Sexual touching, sexual act and other sexual offences18285
Domestic violence related assault35554
Non-domestic violence related assault1051661

Byron Bay Property and Deception Offences

My Chances of Becoming a Victim of Property and Deception Offences

1 in 11

In Byron Bay

1 in 30

In NSW

Property and Deception Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Property offences in Byron Bay vs New South Wales

Property and Deception Offences: Byron Bay vs NSW, Australia

Byron Bay population: 6320

NSW population: 8058541

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsNSW Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)NSW Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Theft32618002851582204
Burglary/Break and Enter5324967839306
Arson8376012746
Malicious damage to property124491361962602

An overview of the major property and deception offences, including Byron Bay crime statistics for each offence type.

CrimesNo. of offencesRate
Motor vehicle theft28443
Steal from motor vehicle53839
Steal from retail store36570
Break and enter dwelling22348
Break and enter non-dwelling31491

Drug Offences

Drug Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Drug offences in Byron Bay vs NSW

Drug Offences: Byron Bay vs New South Wales

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsNSW Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)NSW Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Drug use and possession12234032193041667
Drug dealing and trafficking2462933807705
Cultivate or manufacture drugs21116321366
Other drug offences11584117472

Public Order and Security Offences

Public Order and Security Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Public order and security offences comparison chart

Public Order and Security Offences: Byron Bay vs NSW

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsNSW Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)NSW Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Disorderly conduct100173211582212.07
Prohibited and regulated weapons offences1714664269179.54

Byron Bay Crimes per Square KM

Crimes per square km in Byron Bay vs NSW

Byron Bay Crime FAQs

How many murders were in Byron Bay in 2021?

According to the New South Wales Police Force and BOSCAR data, there were 0 murders in Byron Bay in 2021. The number of homicides (which includes murders, attempted murder, murder conspiracy, and manslaughters) was 0.

What’s the most common crime in Byron Bay?

According to the latest available data from the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the most common type of crime in Byron Bay is malicious damage to property.

What is the crime rate in Byron Bay?

The overall crime rate in Byron Bay, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 24921 in the year ending December 2021.

However, it’s important to note that this is an aggregate figure that includes all types of crime, and some types of offences are more prevalent than others. Additionally, crime rates can vary by location, with some areas experiencing higher rates of certain types of crime than others.

Is Byron Bay a safe place to live in?

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) states that Byron Bay total crime rate in 2021 was 24921. This means it’s 6% safer than all NSW suburbs. So Byron Bay has a low safety profile according to our scoring systems.

Is Byron Bay safe at night?

46% of crimes in Byron Bay occur between 6 PM and 6 AM so, it’s moderate safety to walk alone in Byron Bay at night.

Total Crime Stats of Byron Bay

DivisionSubdivisionOffence typeYear (2020)Year (2021)
Crimes against the personHomicideMurder00
Crimes against the personHomicideAttempted murder00
Crimes against the personHomicideMurder accessory, conspiracy00
Crimes against the personHomicideManslaughter00
Crimes against the personAssaultAssault Police1010
Crimes against the personAssaultDomestic violence related assault3335
Crimes against the personAssaultNon-domestic violence related assault139105
Crimes against the personSexual offencensSexual assault1014
Crimes against the personSexual offencensSexual touching, sexual act and other sexual offences1780
Crimes against the personRobberyRobbery7718
Crimes against the personAbduction and kidnappingAbduction and kidnapping01
Crimes against the personBlackmail and extortionBlackmail and extortion00
Crimes against the personIntimidation, stalking and harassmentIntimidation, stalking and harassment7078
Crimes against the personOther offences against the personOther offences against the person12
Property and deception offencesTheftMotor vehicle theft4128
Property and deception offencesTheftSteal from motor vehicle6553
Property and deception offencesTheftSteal from retail store4336
Property and deception offencesTheftReceiving or handling stolen goods269
Property and deception offencesTheftSteal from dwelling2530
Property and deception offencesTheftSteal from person1513
Property and deception offencesTheftStock theft00
Property and deception offencesTheftFraud7780
Property and deception offencesTheftOther theft offences12777
Property and deception offencesBurglary/Break and enterBreak and enter dwelling2022
Property and deception offencesBurglary/Break and enterBreak and enter non-dwelling46131
Property and deception offencesArsonArson98
Property and deception offencesMalicious damage to propertyMalicious damage to property124124
Drug offencesDrug use and possessionPossession and/or use of cocaine105
Drug offencesDrug use and possessionPossession and/or use of narcotics20
Drug offencesDrug use and possessionPossession and/or use of cannabis131101
Drug offencesDrug use and possessionPossession and/or use of amphetamines113
Drug offencesDrug use and possessionPossession and/or use of ecstasy44
Drug offencesDrug use and possessionPossession and/or use of other drugs259
Drug offencesDrug dealing and traffickingDealing, trafficking in cocaine91
Drug offencesDrug dealing and traffickingDealing, trafficking in narcotics016
Drug offencesDrug dealing and traffickingDealing, trafficking in cannabis30
Drug offencesDrug dealing and traffickingDealing, trafficking in amphetamines17
Drug offencesDrug dealing and traffickingDealing, trafficking in ecstasy20
Drug offencesDrug dealing and traffickingDealing, trafficking in other drugs10
Drug offencesCultivate or manufacture drugsCultivating cannabis02
Drug offencesCultivate or manufacture drugsManufacture drug00
Drug offencesDrug dealing and traffickingImporting drugs00
Drug offencesOther drug offencesOther drug offences1211
Public order and security offencesDisorderly conductTrespass4246
Public order and security offencesDisorderly conductOffensive conduct4938
Public order and security offencesDisorderly conductOffensive language2213
Public order and security offencesDisorderly conductCriminal intent13
Public order and security offencesProhibited and regulated weapons offencesProhibited and regulated weapons offences3117
Other offencesBetting and gaming offencesBetting and gaming offences00
Other offencesLiquor offencesLiquor offences11488
Other offencesPornography offencesPornography offences10
Other offencesProstitution offencesProstitution offences00
Other offencesTransport regulatory offencesTransport regulatory offences12
Other offencesMiscellaneous offencesMiscellaneous offences376289
Justice procedures offencesAgainst justice proceduresEscape custody00
Justice procedures offencesAgainst justice proceduresBreach Apprehended Violence Order1621
Justice procedures offencesAgainst justice proceduresBreach bail conditions9767
Justice procedures offencesAgainst justice proceduresFail to appear20
Justice procedures offencesAgainst justice proceduresResist or hinder officer5845
Justice procedures offencesAgainst justice proceduresOther offences against justice procedures89

Note: The data for murder and manslaughter refers to the number of recorded victims, not criminal incidents.

References

  • NSW Police public site
  • NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census QuickStats for all persons

Greater Capital City Statistical Area

Greater Sydney