The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures have Wyong at No 14 and Gosford No 17 on the Top 20 list of knife crime regions (by local government areas).

Police Minister Michael Daley said police would use the statistics to continue their summer crackdown of knife crimes.

“Police in Local Area Commands across the state are continually making our streets safer,confiscating knives off people out to cause trouble – and in some cases – serious harm,” Mr Daley said.

“Across the state, the number of offences involving a knife or sharp implement is down.

“The NSW Government has given police the resources and powers they need to detect and confiscate illegal knives.

“High visibility police operations such as Operation Vikings and Operation Vision 5 on our public transport network continue to send a strong message to criminals who carry knives that they will be caught by police.

“NSW currently has the toughest knife laws in the country and just last week, the Government announced we will support new laws that could see first-time offenders face jail.

“If you see someone unlawfully carrying a knife in a public place, I urge you to call the Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” Mr Daley said.

Top 20 Knife Crime Hotspots by local givernment area in (firstly) 2007/08 and (secondly) in 2008/09:

Sydney 359 - 254

Blacktown 223 - 232

Fairfield 176 - 172

Bankstown 100 - 151

Liverpool 137 - 142

Campbelltown 125 - 141

Parramatta 140 - 131

Newcastle 123 - 128

Wollongong 110 - 112

Penrith 141 - 99

Canterbury 83 - 91

Auburn 95 - 84

Lake Macquarie 78 - 68

Wyong 80 - 66

Randwick 87 - 65

Holroyd 85 - 64

Gosford 67 - 57

Sutherland 69 - 57

Rockdale 75 - 56

Marrickville 90 - 52

(Table 1: Summary of NSW recorded crime trends for offences where a knife/sword/scissors/screwdriver was used as a weapon by Local Government Area.)