The local area was the seventh highest among local government areas in NSW for sexual offences and non-domestic violence assaults during 2008, according to data recently released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

There were 51 offences recorded in 2008, compared to 40 offences the previous year.

This is a jump of 15 places on the list, with the Inverell area taking 22nd place on the list in 2007, with 40 offences recorded.

Inverell was 10th in the list of the highest frequency of non-domestic violence related assaults with 178 such assaults recorded in 2008.

The previous year Inverell was in 18th position on the same list with 167 non-domestic violence assaults recorded.

The latest batch of statistics was not all bad news however, with the Inverell area recording a drop in several crime areas.

For domestic violence related assaults, the Inverell LGA was ranked number 19 in the state with 108 offences recorded in 2008, a drop from 2007 with 117 offences recorded, putting the area in 17th position.

For break and enters of non-dwellings, motor vehicle theft and stealing from a person, Inverell did not make it onto the list, and came in at number 43 for break and enter of dwellings.

There was only minor increases in most crime areas and a general stabilisation of crime figures across the North West in the 12 months from March 2007 to March 2008.

But other areas in the North West also recorded increases in crime areas including Gunnedah, Armidale Dumaresq, Glen Innes Severn, Uralla and Tenterfield, which also found themselves in the top 10 for some offences.