The Australian Standard Offence Classification (ASOC) has been developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for use in the collection and publication of crime and justice statistics. It provides a classificatory framework for the comparison of statistics on offences across Australia.
It replaces the Australian National Classification of Offences (ANCO), 1985, Cat. no. 1234.0, published by the ABS in 1985. The development of the ASOC resulted both from the need to update the existing classification and to address its recognised deficiencies.
The ABS will update the ASOC on a regular basis to account for changes in the law and in response to issues identified in its use.
Users and producers of crime and justice statistics and of the existing ANCO in all Australian State, Territory and Commonwealth criminal justice jurisdictions, have been consulted in the development of the ASOC. The assistance provided by these individuals and organisations during the development of the classification is gratefully acknowledged.
W. McLennan
Australian Statistician
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