Australian Institue of Criminology

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Victims of violent crime statistics

Victims of violent crimes from 1996 to 2007 (number)
HomicideAssaultSexual assaultRobberyKidnapping
Note: Number of victims presented here represents revised estimates on numbers published in earlier editions of Australian crime: facts & figures
1996 354 114,156 14,542 16,372 478
1997 364 124,500 14,353 21,305 564
1998 334 130,903 14,689 23,801 707
1999 385 134,271 14,699 22,606 766
2000 362 138,708 16,406 23,336 695
2001 347 152,283 17,577 26,591 767
2002 366 159,548 18,718 20,989 706
2003 341 157,280 18,025 19,709 696
2004 302 156,849 19,171 16,513 768
2005 301 166,507 18,695 17,176 730
2006 322 172,441 19,555 17,375 725
2007 282 176,427 19,781 17,988 730
  • Assaults continue to represent the majority of recorded violent crimes. The overall trend since 1996 has been upward, with an increase of 55 percent between 1996 and 2007.
  • The trend in sexual assault has also followed a general increase. The highest numbers of victims of sexual assault and of assault were recorded in 2007.
  • There were 282 victims of homicide in 2007: a 12 percent decrease from 2006 and the lowest number recorded in the past 12 years.
  • Continuing the trend since 2004, robbery offences increased again in 2007, to 17,988.
  • The number of recorded kidnappings fluctuates from year to year. From 1996 to 2004, kidnappings registered a general increase, but the number of victims of kidnapping has remained relatively steady following a decline in 2005.
Annual change in number of victims of selected violent crimes, from 2002 to 2007 (percent)

 

a: Robbery is classified as a violent crime, as the use or threat of violence is more serious than property theft

  • The trends in the past five years of selected violent crimes have varied. Variability from year to year is more pronounced in offences that have fewer victims, such as homicide.
  • Recorded homicide declined from 2002 to 2004, increased in 2006, and decreased again in 2007.
  • Both assault and robbery have increased since 2004.
  • The number of sexual assault victims has shown a fluctuating pattern, with the number of victims recorded increasing in three of the five years considered.

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