Home → Subjects → Violent crime → Statistics → Victims of violent crime statistics
Victims of violent crime statistics
| Homicide | Assault | Sexual assault | Robbery | Kidnapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 1997-2007. Recorded crime, victims, Australia (various years; title varies). ABS cat. no. 4510.0. Canberra: ABS | |||||
| 1996 | 354 | 114,156 | 14,542 | 16,372 | 478 |
| 1997 | 364 | 124,500 | 14,353 | 21,305 | 564 |
| 1998 | 332 | 130,903 | 14,336 | 23,801 | 707 |
| 1999 | 386 | 134,271 | 14,104 | 22,606 | 766 |
| 2000 | 363 | 138,708 | 15,759 | 23,336 | 695 |
| 2001 | 346 | 152,283 | 16,897 | 26,591 | 767 |
| 2002 | 365 | 160,118 | 17,977 | 20,989 | 706 |
| 2003 | 341 | 157,280 | 18,237 | 19,709 | 696 |
| 2004 | 293 | 156,849 | 18,400 | 16,513 | 768 |
| 2005 | 295 | 166,499 | 18,172 | 16,787 | 730 |
| 2006 | 319 | 170,907 | 18,211 | 17,284 | 725 |
- Between 1996 and 2003, the number of homicide victims fluctuated between 332 and 386, before dropping below 300 in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, homicide rose above 300 again, to 319.
- Continuing the trend of recent years, robbery offences increased in 2006.
- The number of recorded kidnappings fluctuates yearly. Over the period 1996-2004 kidnappings registered a general increase, but decreased between 2004 and 2006, from 768 to 725.
- The trend in recorded sexual assaults showed a steady increase over the period 1996-2004. A slight decrease in 2005 was followed by another increase in 2006.
- Assaults continue to represent the majority of recorded violent crimes. The overall trend since 1996 has been upward, with an increase of 50% between 1996 and 2006.
Percentage change in victims of selected violent crimes, 2002-06
a: Robbery is classified as a violent crime, as the use or threat of violence is more serious than property theft
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 1997-2007. Recorded crime, victims, Australia (various years; title varies). ABS cat. no. 4510.0. Canberra: ABS
- For violent crimes, the trend in the past five years has varied. Recorded homicide declined between 2002 and 2004, but increased slightly in 2004-2005 and then more so in 2005-06.
- Sexual assault increased in 2003-04, decreased slightly in 2004-05 and remained steady in 2005-06.
- Kidnapping is the only violent crime that registered a decline in 2006.
- Assault increased after 2004, with a more substantial rise occurring in 2004-05 than 2005-06.
- Variability from year to year is more pronounced for offences that have a smaller number of victims, such as homicide.