Stephen Lawrence, who is a candidate for Labor pre-selection, says statistics from the six years through to December 2017 show that crime rates have either risen or remained stable in each of the 13 main categories where data is available.

Last week’s Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) report showed marked drops in areas such as break-and-enter, stolen vehicles and steal from motor vehicle in the two years to December 2017, but Mr Lawrence insists those figures are just evening out prior spikes.

He says that according to the six-year figures, reports of motor vehicle theft is up 5.2 per cent while break-and-enter, steal from motor vehicle and steal from person are stable. Sexual assault and fraud have both risen in the same period.

“Forget the spin and exaggeration. Crime statistics are notoriously unstable and you cannot rely on quarterly statistics,” Mr Lawrence said.

“The only way to get a real picture is to look at longer term trends.

“The picture that emerges from the BOCSAR statistics is that Dubbo LGA over the six full years of this government’s reign has seen drops in no main categories of crime.

“In every main category for which data is available crime is rising or merely stable. Overall crime is clearly rising.

“We cannot afford to be misled by government about crime in Dubbo. Even stable crime rates are no success.

“This is because our crime rates across a range of offences are entrenched at two or three times the state average.”