4509.1 - Crime and Safety, New South Wales, Apr 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/12/2001   
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HOUSEHOLD CRIME


A total of 276,400 households (11.4% of all households in NSW) were victims of household crime in the 12 months to April 2001. The household victimisation rate has increased compared to the same period in 2000 (9.4%). The household victimisation rate for break and enter in 2001 showed an increase from the previous year (6.3% in 2001 compared with 5.6% in 2000) however this increase was not statistically significant. The victimisation rate for attempted break and enter (4.4%) in 2001 was higher compared with the same period in 2000 (3.5%). The victimisation rate for motor vehicle theft also increased (2.4% in 2001 compared with 1.7% in 2000).

The household victimisation rate for Sydney (13.3%) was higher than for the Balance of NSW (8.3%). Victimisation rates also varied according to household type. One parent households (15.6%) and other households (15.5%) reported relatively higher victimisation rates compared to couple only households (9.0%), couple households with children (10.6%) and households with a person living alone (11.2%).

Graph - Victimisation rates for household crime - 2000 and 2001



PERSONAL CRIME

A total of 261,100 usual residents of NSW were victims of personal crime in the 12 months to April 2001, a victimisation rate of 5.1%. This victimisation rate was higher than that recorded 12 months earlier (4.4%). The victimisation rate for robbery (1.0%) was the same as that reported in 2000, however the victimisation rate for assault (4.2%) rose compared to the same period last year (3.6%).

Males were more likely to be victims of crime than females. There were 151,600 male victims, a victimisation rate of 6.1% and 109,500 female victims, a victimisation rate of 4.3%. Victimisation rates for personal crime varied according to age. The highest victimisation rate (10.8%) was amongst 15-24 year olds.

Of the 213,800 victims of assault, just over half (51%) stated that they knew their offender.

Graph - Victims of personal crime(a), age and sex - 2001



Unemployed people were more likely to be victims of personal crime than those who were employed or not in the labour force. The victimisation rate for unemployed persons was 9.4% while the rate for employed persons was 5.5%. People who were not in the labour force were least likely to be victims of personal crime, with a victimisation rate of 4.2%.

The person victimisation rate varied according to region. The victimisation rate for Sydney (5.5%) was greater than the Balance of NSW (4.4%).


MULTIPLE VICTIMS

Of those households which experienced household crime, 33% were victims on more than one occasion within the 12 month reference period. Of the victims of personal crime, 44% experienced more than one incident in the 12 month reference period. For personal crime, the multiple victimisation rate was the highest for victims of assault (48%).


REPORTING TO POLICE

Reporting of incidents to the police varied considerably depending on the type of offence. For household crime, the proportion of victims reporting the last incident to the police was considerably higher for break and enter (73%) than for attempted break and enter (32%). In comparison, around 95% of motor vehicle theft victims reported the last incident to the police.

The rates of reporting break and enter and motor vehicle theft to the police remained similar to the levels reported in 2000. However, in 2001 there was an increase in the rate of reporting attempted break and enter to the police (32% in 2001 compared with 20% in 2000).

For victims of robbery, 39% reported the last incident to the police, and for victims of assault the last incident was reported by 30% of victims.


PERCEPTION OF CRIME/PUBLIC NUISANCE

The main perceived crime or public nuisance problem was housebreaking/ burglaries/theft from homes, with 18% of people identifying this as the main problem. An estimated 45% of people did not think there were any crime or public nuisance problems in their neighbourhood.