MALICIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE

Malicious property damage is intentional or wilful (not accidental) damage, defacement or destruction of any part of a home or anything usually kept at home. This excludes any rental, investment or holiday properties owned by a member of the household. Property is something tangible in nature, including land, conveyances, animals or other objects capable of being privately owned. Destruction can mean any alteration that may render something imperfect or inoperative. It can include destruction of property, graffiti or vandalism, partial destruction, killing or harming an owned animal and removing or destroying a plant or other part of an owned landscape. It excludes acts such as turning off water meters and flicking safety switches if no damage to the meter occurred.

There were an estimated 1.1 million incidents of malicious property damage experienced by 649,900 (7.5%) Australian households in the 12 months prior to interview in 2011–12. Nearly half (46%) of the victims of malicious property damage reported the most recent incident they experienced to police.

The malicious property damage victimisation rates for South Australia (8.7%), Western Australia (10%) and the Northern Territory (10%) were all higher than the national average (7.5%). The victimisation rate for Queensland (5.9%) was lower than the national average and all other states.

2011-12 Malicious Property Damage Victimisation Rate, by State and Territory


The rate of reporting of malicious property damage to police for Western Australia (55%) was higher than the national average (46%) and higher than for any other state and territory.

2011-12 Rate of Reporting of Malicious Property Damage to Police, by State and Territory

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