This city in Tasmania's north was once known for being peaceful and community-minded, but residents now say they do not feel safe to go out at night.

Key points: Some residents say they are afraid to go outside at night due to a perceived increase in violent crimes

Some residents say they are afraid to go outside at night due to a perceived increase in violent crimes Police say the statistics do not support residents' concerns

Police say the statistics do not support residents' concerns There have been 88 serious crimes for the financial year to date compared to 84 last year

Murders, stabbings and assaults have dominated headlines in Launceston over the past year.

And while police say statistics do not show an increase in serious crime, after another weekend of violence — including an assault on a pregnant woman at a Launceston playground and a shooting — the feeling on the street was different.

Launceston resident Angela Ryan said the violent crime had her on edge.

Launceston resident Angela Ryan says she thinks the town has changed. ( ABC News: Damian McIntyre )

"Once upon a time I'd walk down the streets of Launceston of a night, but I wouldn't now for fear of being attacked," she said.

Peter Mahler agreed.

"I wouldn't go out at night, I wouldn't. I don't feel safe in the evening, I don't," he said.

Rob Kenna said he felt relatively safe during the day.

"I'm not sure if I'd walk out in the middle of the night on my own, which is a bit sad," he said.

Crime numbers 'comparable' to last financial year

Commander Brett Smith said the statistics did not support some residents' concerns.

"Statistics don't back that up at all, we've had a comparable number of serious crime year to date," he said.

There have been 88 serious crimes in the region for the financial year to date, compared to 84 last year.

"What's important is that the general community ought not fear being concerned because the people involved in most of these are known to one another," Commander Smith said.

Denise Delphin from the Northern Suburbs Community Centre says she has not noticed a rise in crime. ( ABC News: Damian McIntyre )

That view was backed up by Denise Delphin at the Northern Suburbs Community Centre.

"We work out of the northern suburbs area of Launceston and we haven't noticed a rise in crime and any elevation at all over the last couple of months," she said.

"We're not hearing people talk about that either and the evidence around that is we have very active neighbourhood watches in our community and what's being presented at those meetings doesn't indicate a rise."

In nearby Ravenswood, it was a different story.

Nettie Burr from the Staring Point Neighbourhood House said there was "definitely a perception in the community that there are more violent crimes occurring".

"People sort of wonder where is it going to stop, how bad does it have to get, and they realise that police do an amazing job in catching people but then the court system just seems to let it go," she said.

Resident Tracy Martin said one thing was for sure — the city had changed.

"It's not the Launceston we grew up in as kids, you can't recognise it," she said.