Homicide and related offences
In 2023, there were 409 victims of homicide and related offences recorded by police in Australia. This was an increase of 5% (20 victims) from 2022.
The victimisation rate remained stable at 2 victims per 100,000 persons.
Victims of homicide and related offences were most commonly:
- male (65% or 266 victims)
- between 35 and 44 years of age (21% or 85 victims)
Over half of homicide and related offences:
- occurred at a residential location (56% or 229 victims)
- involved the use of a weapon (54% or 219 victims), with almost a quarter (24%) involving a knife (98 victims)
Nearly two in five (38%) of homicide and related offences were family and domestic violence (FDV) related (157 victims).
Sexual assault
There were 36,318 victims of sexual assault recorded in Australia in 2023, increasing by 11% (3,547 victims) from the previous year. The victimisation rate also increased from 126 to 136 victims per 100,000 persons, the highest rate recorded in the time series.
a. Rate per 100,000 persons.
For almost all states and territories, victims of sexual assault increased, with the largest increases in:
- New South Wales (up 2,296 victims or 19%)
- Queensland (up 1,011 victims or 14%)
For victims of sexual assault:
- most were female (84% or 30,466 victims)
- more than a third (38%) were aged between 10 and 17 years when the incident was reported (13,667 victims)
- around two in five (41%) were aged between 10 and 17 years at the date of incident
Most sexual assaults:
- did not involve the use of a weapon (94% or 34,139 victims)
- occurred in a residential location (69% or 25,103 victims)
- were reported within a year (69% or 24,953 victims)
Around two in five (39%) sexual assaults were FDV related (14,059 victims).
Kidnapping/abduction
There were 501 victims of kidnapping/abduction recorded in Australia in 2023, a decrease of 6 victims from the previous year. The victimisation rate for kidnapping/abduction remained stable at 2 victims per 100,000 persons.
Victims of kidnapping/abduction were most commonly:
- taken from a residential location (59% or 297 victims)
- female (53% or 266 victims)
- aged between 25 and 34 years (27% or 134 victims)
Around three in four (74%) kidnapping/abductions did not involve the use of a weapon (368 victims).
More than a third (34%) of kidnapping/abductions were FDV related (169 victims).
Blackmail/extortion
There were 3,380 victims of blackmail/extortion recorded in Australia in 2023, an increase of 56% (1,217 victims) from the previous year.
For almost all states and territories, the number of victims of blackmail/extortion increased, with the largest increases in:
- New South Wales (up 1,029 victims or 122%)
- Western Australia (up 137 victims or 64%)
The majority (87%) of person victims of blackmail/extortion were male (2,896 victims).
The most common ages of person victims at the date of report were:
- between 18 and 24 years (39% or 1,295 victims)
- under 18 years (30% or 1,006 victims)
Unlawful entry with intent
In 2023, the number of victims of unlawful entry with intent increased by 6% (9,649 victims) to 160,885 victims. However, the number of victims of unlawful entry with intent remained lower than 2019 (173,347 victims), prior to when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.
There were increases in victims of unlawful entry with intent in most states and territories, with the largest increases in:
- Victoria (up 5,778 victims or 19%)
- New South Wales (up 3,040 victims or 10%)
- Queensland (up 2,213 victims or 5%)
There were decreases in:
- Western Australia (down 3,224 victims or 15%)
- the Australian Capital Territory (down 45 victims or 2%)
Most unlawful entry with intent:
- occurred at a residential location (69% or 110,552 victims)
- involved the taking of property (60% or 96,751 victims)
Motor vehicle theft
There were 60,417 victims of motor vehicle theft recorded in Australia in 2023, an increase of 10% (5,432 victims) from the previous year. This was the highest number of victims of motor vehicle theft in the time series since 2008 (68,262 victims).
Victims of motor vehicle theft increased in all states and territories except the Australian Capital Territory (down 16% or 189 victims), with the largest increases in:
- Victoria (up 3,076 victims or 24%)
- New South Wales (up 1,764 victims or 18%)
- South Australia (up 341 victims or 9%)
Over half (54% or 32,369 victims) of stolen motor vehicles were taken from an outbuilding/residential land, and nearly a quarter (24%) were taken from a street/footpath.