NON-COURT ACTIONS

Non-court actions comprise legal actions such as informal or formal cautions/warnings, conferencing, counselling such as drug diversionary schemes, or the issuing of penalty or infringement notices, which do not require an appearance at court.

The number of non-court actions increased between 2012-13 and 2013-14 in the following states and territories:

• New South Wales (by 9,717 non-court actions, or 11%);
• South Australia (by 8,866 non-court actions, or 38%);
• Northern Territory (by 3,002 non-court actions, or 37%); and
• Queensland (by 2,036 non-court actions, or 8%).

The number of non-court actions decreased between 2012-13 and 2013-14 in:

• Victoria (by 7,874 non-court actions, or 13%);
• Tasmania (by 1,288 non-court actions, or 18%); and
• Australian Capital Territory (by 111 non-court actions, or 7%). (Tables 20 – 26)

Principal offence

Public order offences was the most prevalent principal offence for non-court proceedings for all selected states and territories, except New South Wales and South Australia. Of all non-court police proceedings, Public order offences accounted for:

• 85% (or 9,475 proceedings) in the Northern Territory;
• 52% (or 3,078 proceedings) in Tasmania;
• 45% (or 687 proceedings) in the Australian Capital Territory;
• 37% (or 10,517 proceedings) in Queensland; and
• 33% (or 17,457 proceedings) in Victoria.

The most prevalent principal offence for non-court proceedings in New South Wales was Theft (48%, or 47,706) and in South Australia was Illicit drug offences (44%, or 14,041). (Tables 20 – 26)