Indecent assaults, sex crimes rise in NSW

Indecent assaults and other sexual offences across NSW have risen by more than eight per cent in the past two years, new crime figures reveal.

The surge is set against a backdrop of all other major crime categories (excluding retail theft) falling or remaining stable over the period.

Indecent assaults in Sydney's outer southwest surged by almost 36 per cent in the past 24 months, while sexual assaults in the city, inner south and eastern suburbs all climbed by at least 18 per cent, according to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

NSW Police Minister Troy Grant said he was advised that half the increase in indecent assaults, indecent acts and other sexual offences could be put down to a rise in reports of historical child sex assaults.

So too did NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, who said there had also been an increase in reports from the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) child abuse help line.

BOCSAR director Don Weatherburn said the seasons could play a part in the surge of sexual crimes, with the last three quarterly periods recorded capturing warmer months.

"It may just be that the numbers were pushed up by the summer months - we'll have to see if the number comes back down in June," he said.