Canberra: Retail violence surges, sparking public safety fears | The Canberra Times

Statisticians debate whether Canberra has less crime today than it did a decade ago; points out that numbers are falling across several crime categories; sexual assault remains a notable exception. But social perception tells a different story. Critics are increasingly comparing the national capital to other cities notorious for street violence and blatant crime. People feel a real sense of fear when wandering around the city center after dark.