VIOLENT attacks in Cairns increased slightly last year but thefts and break-ins have dropped dramatically in the past four years, crime figures reveal.

On the eve of a public forum about crime, police figures obtained by The Cairns Post show the assault rate last year increased by 1 per cent compared with 2006.

Sexual offences dropped by 12 per cent in 2007.

There were about 10 more robberies.

Statewide figures for the same period show a 3 per cent drop in assaults and a 10 per cent reduction in robberies.

Cairns MP Desley Boyle said many people wrongly believed crime was rampant in the city and were afraid to leave their house for fear of being mugged or murdered.

She blamed media "exaggeration" for fuelling such paranoia.

"I know that the streets are safe," Ms Boyle said.

"I know that some rotten things happen.

"They are dreadful, but there is a difference between the number of (offences) and the horribleness of the incidents.

"I think our police are doing a fantastic job and overall our crime figures are pretty good for a growing city."

Break-ins dropped by 14 per cent while vehicle thefts decreased 8 per cent.

The Cairns district, which also covers Cape York and the Torres Strait, picked up an additional 18 police last year, taking the total number to 465.

Community group Residents Against Crime will hold a forum tonight to discuss recent attacks, including a spate of bashings at the weekend, in inner-city suburbs.

Organiser and 67-year-old great-grandfather Barry Neall, who will host the meeting with radio identity John MacKenzie, said crime figures in any form were flawed because many victims did not report their ordeals.

"The write-ups in the paper prove conclusively that there is too much unwarranted crime," he said.

"The police are overworked. They can’t keep up."

Senior police and government workers will also attend the
meeting.

The forum is at the Country Women’s Association hall in Grove St from 7.30pm.

For the full statistics, download the pdf document (right).

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