Coffs Harbour crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
5,130 recorded in this period, compared with 5,809 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is a coastal city located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, approximately 540 kilometres north of Sydney, within the City of Coffs Harbour local government area (postcode 2450). The region is characterised by a narrow coastal strip where the Great Dividing Range meets the Pacific Ocean, featuring sandy beaches, headlands, and hinterland dominated by state forests and plantations. According to the 2021 Australian census, the broader Coffs Harbour significant urban area had a population of approximately 78,000 residents, reflecting its role as a regional hub due to its temperate climate and coastal environment.
As a major regional centre, Coffs Harbour provides a comprehensive range of amenities, including the Coffs Harbour Health Campus, educational facilities such as a campus of Southern Cross University, and a commercial CBD. The local economy is diversified, historically rooted in agriculture, timber, and commercial fishing, but increasingly driven by tourism, retail, healthcare, and education. Transport connectivity is facilitated by the Pacific Highway, the North Coast railway line, and Coffs Harbour Airport.
Prior to European settlement, the area was traditional land of the Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal people. European presence began with cedar getters in the 19th century, followed by pastoral settlement and the establishment of a port. The locality's name is commonly attributed to John Korff, a shipbuilder who sheltered in the harbour in 1847, with the spelling later modified. Coffs Harbour was gazetted as a town in 1885 and officially proclaimed a city in 1987, transitioning into a prominent tourism and lifestyle destination.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Breach bail conditions | 758 | 898 |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 455 | 493 |
| Malicious damage to property | 350 | 413 |
| Breach Apprehended Violence Order | 333 | 341 |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | 329 | 302 |
| Steal from retail store | 318 | 278 |
| Domestic violence related assault | 302 | 375 |
| Fraud | 283 | 295 |
| Steal from motor vehicle | 192 | 242 |
| Prohibited and regulated weapons offences | 177 | 180 |
| Other theft | 163 | 146 |
| Other offences | 137 | 117 |
| Trespass | 126 | 116 |
| Break and enter dwelling | 111 | 252 |
| Possession and/or use of amphetamines | 103 | 93 |
| Steal from dwelling | 101 | 99 |
| Possession and/or use of cannabis | 97 | 147 |
| Sexual assault | 95 | 86 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 27,089 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.