By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE number of drug offences committed by men and women in Casey has sharply risen last year, according to data released by the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) last month.
The number of drug use and possession incidents in Casey for men rose by 111 and women 48.
From July 2014 to June 2015, the number of drug offences for men rose to 507 from 396 a year earlier. For women, in the same period, the number rose to 130 from 82 the previous year.
The rise for men comes as the number fell to 396, in the period July 2013 to June 2014, compared to 411 from July 2012 to June 2013.
Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Maroney, from Casey CIU, said the increase this year could partly be attributed to a rise in detection rates.
“Our drug crew is having a good run and drawing on lots of good information,” Det Sen Sgt Maroney said.
“It’s positive in the fact we’re detecting more offences, getting to the heart of it, and getting to major dealers and the people manufacturing drugs.
“But it’s also concerning that there’s more and more use and young people becoming vulnerable to it.”
Asked about the overrepresentation in the data of men compared to women, Det Sen Sgt Maroney said the gender disparity was common.
“That would be the same across every crime scene we have,” he said.
“Whether it be burglaries, theft … males always dominate.
“There’s no rhyme or reason, they’re just more at the forefront of it.
“And when you look at manufacturing and high level dealing, it’s always dominated by males.”
