Domestic violence bad in east

DOMESTIC violence has emerged as a serious problem in Sydney's eastern suburbs: there has been a 21 per cent increase in the number of assaults reported to police in the past two years, the state's latest crime statistics show.

The director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Don Weatherburn, said the big jump in assaults in Sydney's east surprised him, and although he had no firm evidence, he suspected the cause was alcohol-related.

Domestic violence was especially bad in Randwick, and was particularly serious around Christmas, the statistics show.

Dr Weatherburn said property offences in NSW were at the lowest levels in a decade because of the heroin shortage. Break and enter offences fell by 10.4 per cent and robbery with a weapon (not a firearm) had also decreased by 7 per cent.

"The same can't be said, unfortunately, for offences such as assault. This offence has been stable for the past few years but the prevalence of assault in NSW is nearly double what it was just over a decade ago," Dr Weatherburn said.

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Figures from Nielsen Media Research show that alcoholic beverage companies spent $122million on media advertising in the 12months to November 30, up 11.9percent on the year before.