MOUNT Isa Police Inspector Paul Biggin has defended crime statistics in Mount Isa after a spate of serious incidents recently - including two murders in the past week.
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A serious assault also occurred outside the Red Earth Hotel on December 15 at 1.05am, leaving a 27-year-old Menzies man being airlifted to Townsville hospital in a serious condition.
Less than two weeks later, 29-year-old Samantha Ann Sweeney was charged with murder after 32-year-old Troy Nathan Staunton was stabbed to death in their Spence Street home on December 24.
On Thursday, a 32-year-old man was charged with the murder of a 41-year-old woman in Hutton Street at Piturie, south-west of Mount Isa.
Figures released by the Queensland Police Service in October 2012 revealed that Mount Isa was the most violent region in the state.
A statistical review of the 2011/12 financial year showed the Mount Isa Police District, which spans the entire North West region has the highest assaults and murders per capita in Queensland.
Insp Biggin wanted to point out that the Mount Isa statistics are based on the entire district, which encompasses more than 22 per cent of Queensland.
"Even though some of the figures may appear high, it's also based on a ratio of 100,000 (people)- so with the population of our district being 33,000 - everything is multiplied by three," Mr Biggin said.
"It looks high, but that doesn't mean it's a true reflection.
"In relation to Mount Isa city, lots of things that happen outside of the city make Mount Isa look worse than what it is."
On statistics alone, it appears that compared with the city of Brisbane - with a population of more than two million people - Mount Isa reports 194 more assaults per year.
The Gold Coast appears to be a comparative safe haven as well, with 1470 less reported assaults per year than Mount Isa.
Mr Biggin said Mount Isa is a unique city that comes with its own set of problems and there were a lot of factors to be taken into account when looking at the crime rate of Mount Isa.
"We have a number of indigenous communities, a lot of people coming over from the northern territory that from time to time upset local families and assaults do occur," he said.
"When it gets hot, a lot of people drink more than they should and try to resolve differences with fighting.
"Overall, I think a lot of our issues are still alcohol related."