Projects
Differences in Recorded Crime Statistics (DiRCS)
Current work on the DiRCS project has focused on the preparation of a Scenario Based Testing exercise (sub-project 5). This exercise will present a number of scenarios to a sample of police officers, and ask them to report what offence types (if any) they would record for each scenario. The results of the exercise will give the NCSU a consistent base upon which to measure differences in the RCS rates. The scenarios were carefully developed to ensure the impact of the characteristics of an incident on the police decision to record can be compared across jurisdictions.
Work on sub-project 3 is continuing. This project was to be a quantitative analysis of the number of incidents reported by telephone that are recorded on an electronic police recording system. It was found that a quantitative analysis is not possible, so instead a detailed qualitative analysis of the factors that influence the recording is being conducted. A draft national report will be presented to the Crime Board in May.
Development of a framework for measuring e-crime
A framework for measuring e-crime statistics is being developed by an officer outposted at the Australian Hi-Tech Crime Centre. This will provide conceptual information for e-crime, identify key policy issues and related information needs, list data sources currently available and identify gaps in the data.
The framework is designed to improve general knowledge about the extent of reported e-crime, the nature of the offences, characteristics of both those who commit e-crime and those who are victims of e-crime, as well as the level of underreporting of e-crime and the associated reasons. This information will assist in determining the appropriate level of resources assigned to investigating the area of e-crime.
The e-crime framework will be finalised and presented for endorsement, to the Crime Board of Management at the May 2004 meeting. Any questions relating to the framework should be directed to crime.justice@abs.gov.au.
National Information Development Plan for Crime and Justice
The consultation process for the National Information Development Plan (NIDP) is now complete. A draft version of the Plan has been prepared and circulated to members of the NCCJS' governing and advisory bodies for comment. The draft presents a conceptual framework for information in the crime and justice field, discusses information demand and currently available data, and proposes a plan for information development that addresses the priority data needs of users of crime and justice information.
Over the coming months, preliminary feedback on the NIDP will be incorporated and a revised version will be more widely distributed for comment to stakeholders involved in the consultation process.
If you have questions about the NIDP, email crime.justice@abs.gov.au.
Sexual Assault Statistical Overview
A conclusion of the Sexual Assault Information Development Framework (IDF) (cat. no. 4518.0), released in August 2003, was that there is a need to bring together currently available information to provide a broad, statistical overview of the whole field of sexual assault. In the policy context of working to reduce the incidence of sexual assault and to ameliorate its impacts, this will form part of an information base which is needed to assist in planning of service delivery, planning and targeting of other program delivery, and evaluation of programs.
Following the release of the IDF, the National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics is undertaking a project to produce Sexual Assault in Australia: A Statistical Overview. Drawing on selected ABS and non-ABS data sources, it will present information about the key elements of the conceptual framework contained in the IDF; context, risk, incidents, responses, impacts and prevention.
The statistical overview is scheduled for release in mid-2004. For further information, contact crime.justice@abs.gov.au.
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