New crime figures for WA show a downward trend in offences against people and property but that fraud offences — mostly involving "tap and go" cards — has exploded in the past year.

The new figures were published on Thursday on the WA Police website, and reveal there were 44,013 offences against people in 2017/18, down from 45,384 the previous year.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson. Credit:AAP

Offences against property dropped considerably from 164,446 in 2016/17, to 153,778 in 2017/18.

Assaults, robberies, burglaries and stealings were all down.