Sexual assaults trending upward in NSW

People in NSW were half as likely to get murdered in 2015 compared with 25 years ago, but the chances of being sexually assaulted are rising.

The state has generally become safer from violent offences according to reports released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) on Wednesday, but a few areas are bucking the downward trend.

BOCSAR director Don Weatherburn has noted a significant upward trend in assaults and a 131 per cent increase in sexual assaults between 1990 and 2015.

But in good news, the murder rate is at its lowest level in more than two decades, down to just 0.9 victims per 100,000 people.

Meanwhile short-term trend reports have shown weapons are losing favour with the state's robbers.

In the past two years police recorded a 40 per cent decrease in reports of robberies committed with a firearm, and a 20 per cent decrease in robberies with other weapons.

The overall number of robberies also fell in the 24 months to December 2015.

But there has been a "significant increase" in the theft of items such as alcohol, food, mobile phones, electrical items and perfumes from retail stores.

Drugs remain an issue, with 35 and 30 per cent respective increases reported in the use and possession of cocaine and amphetamines.

"Year-on-year that's one of the biggest problems we've got in central Sydney," Dr Weatherburn said.

But central Sydney recorded decreases in reports of 38 categories of offences, compared with just 12 decreases in other parts of the state.

"So far as the state as a whole is concerned, things are looking better in Sydney than they are in regional NSW," Dr Weatherburn said.

The Hunter region in particular bucked state trends by recording a 48 per cent increase in robberies and 26 per cent rise in break and enter reports.

Across NSW a 14 per cent increase was also recorded in the number of bail condition breaches.

Those totalled almost 37,000 in 2015, about 4500 more than the previous year, and were identified by Dr Weatherburn as a contributing factor to the state's increasing prison remand population.

Police put some increases down to proactive strategies.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the figures continued to reflect the hard work of officers.

"Today's results are a clear indication of (police officers') daily dedication and resilience in performing their duties," he said.