Australia sees less household crimes

Australian households experienced less crime in 2012-13 than in 2008-09, according to new figures released Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The Crime Victimization Survey, conducted annually, found that rates of victimization for crimes such as break-in, attempted break-in, malicious property damage and motor vehicle theft were all lower in 2012-13 than five years ago. Victimisation rates for some personal crimes, including physical assault and face-to-face assault, were also lower in 2012- 13 than in 2008-09. The survey revealed the number of assault victims aged 15 or older fell by 0.4 percentage points to 2.7 percent. In comparing 2008/09 figures to 2012/13, the survey also found face-to-face threatened assaults dropped 1.1 percentage points, robberies fell 0.2 points and break-ins dropped by 0.6 points. The rate of sexual assault remained steady, fluctuating from 0. 2 percent and 0.3 percent Households who experienced one of the crimes included in the survey were most likely to have experienced only one incident, rather than two or more incidents. "Eighty-one percent of households who experienced a break-in during the 12 months prior to interview experienced only one incident," ABS Director of the National Center for Crime and Justice Statistics, William Milne, explained. Of respondents who had experienced physical assault, 30 percent reported three or more incidents. Repeat victimization of physical assault was more common for women as 36 percent of women who were victims of physical assault reported three or more incidents in comparison to 27 percent of men. Repeat victimization of face-to-face threatened assault was similar for males and females (39 percent and 38 percent respectively). Alcohol was considered by victims to be a contributing factor in the majority or 65 percent of physical assaults. Where a respondent's most recent experience of physical assault occurred in a place of entertainment or recreation, 82 percent of victims believed alcohol contributed to the incident. The survey was conducted throughout Australia from July 2012 to June 2013 to provide an estimate on the extent of victimization.