Bega crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
609 recorded in this period, compared with 525 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Bega
Bega is a town located in the south-east of New South Wales, situated within the Bega Valley Shire with the postcode 2550. Positioned along the Princes Highway, the locality serves as the administrative and commercial hub for the surrounding agricultural region, lying inland from coastal towns such as Merimbula and Tathra. The local population is predominantly of working age and families, supported by a regional demographic profile common to stable rural service centres in coastal NSW.
The town is well-equipped with civic, educational, and health amenities, including the South East Regional Hospital, local primary and secondary schools, and a commercial shopping precinct. Local life is heavily anchored by the surrounding Bega Valley, renowned for its fertile river flats that support extensive dairy farming. This agricultural foundation underpins the local economy, most notably through the operations of the historic Bega Cooperative Society and its commercial dairy production.
European settlement in the Bega Valley began in the 1830s, following earlier explorations by explorers such as Hamilton Hume. The name 'Bega' is believed to derive from an Aboriginal word, potentially meaning "big camping place" or "salad plant". The town was officially gazetted in the mid-19th century and subsequently developed as a service and processing centre for the district's burgeoning pastoral industry, leaving a legacy of heritage commercial and residential buildings that remain part of the townscape today.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Malicious damage to property | 72 | 52 |
| Breach bail conditions | 57 | 22 |
| Breach Apprehended Violence Order | 50 | 44 |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 46 | 41 |
| Steal from retail store | 40 | 42 |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | 39 | 30 |
| Domestic violence related assault | 37 | 31 |
| Prohibited and regulated weapons offences | 22 | 10 |
| Possession and/or use of cannabis | 21 | 13 |
| Sexual assault | 21 | 19 |
| Fraud | 19 | 43 |
| Other theft | 17 | 14 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 16 | 11 |
| Trespass | 16 | 20 |
| Resist or hinder officer | 14 | 9 |
| Possession and/or use of amphetamines | 12 | 10 |
| Sexual touching, sexual act and other sexual offences | 12 | 12 |
| Steal from motor vehicle | 12 | 13 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 5,013 residents. This is not a current population estimate.
Sources and interpretation
These are police-recorded incident or victim counts, not every unreported incident or a prediction of personal safety. Percentage changes are not tests of statistical significance; small counts need particular care.