SOUTH AUSTRALIA

HOMICIDE

The number of Murder victims in South Australia increased from 13 to 20 between 2014 and 2015, although the number of Homicide victims overall remained steady (34 in 2014 compared to 35 in 2015). The victimisation rate for Murder increased from 0.8 victims per 100,000 persons in 2014 to 1.2 victims per 100,000 persons in 2015 – the second highest victimisation rate of all states and territories. (Table 25)

There were equal numbers of male and female Homicide victims in 2015. Almost half of all Homicide victims were aged between 20 and 34 years (46% or 16 victims). Nearly three-quarters of Homicide victims knew the offender (71% or 25 victims). (Tables 26 & 29)

The majority of homicides occurred at residential locations (71% or 25 victims) and involved a weapon being used (89% or 31 victims). The most common weapon used was a knife, which was used in 40% of homicides (14 victims). (Table 27)


ASSAULT

The number of Assault victims in South Australia rose for the third consecutive year, increasing by 8% from 16,005 victims in 2014 to 17,270 in 2015. The victimisation rate also increased from 950 victims per 100,000 persons to 1,017 victims per 100,000 persons. (Table 31)

Females comprised 52% of Assault victims in 2015 (9,027 victims), compared to 46% in 2010. The proportion of female Assault victims has increased since the beginning of the time series in 2010, which is consistent with other jurisdictions. The percentage increase in female Assault victims between 2014 and 2015 was more than double that for male victims (11% compared to 4%). (Table 31)

Most Assault victims knew their offender (69% or 11,954 victims), with a third being assaulted by a family member (33% or 5,746 victims). Female victims were more than twice as likely to be assaulted by a family member as male victims (48% compared to 17%). Conversely, male victims were more likely to be assaulted by a stranger (44% compared to 14%). (Table 32)

The location of Assault also differed by sex. Female Assault victims in South Australia were more likely to be assaulted in a residential location than a community location (69% compared to 21%), while the proportions for males were similar (41% at a residential location and 37% at a community location). (Table 33)



SEXUAL ASSAULT

The number of Sexual assault victims in South Australia increased by 2.9% in 2015 to a six-year high of 1,590 victims. The victimisation rate for Sexual assault was 93.6 victims per 100,000 persons in 2015, up from 91.7 victims per 100,000 persons in 2014. (Table 6)

The increase was driven by a 5% rise in female Sexual assault victims, from 1,314 in 2014 to 1,380 in 2015. The number of male Sexual assault victims decreased from 233 to 212 over the same time period. Sexual assault victims were most likely to be aged 15-19 years for both males and females (comprising 21% of male Sexual assault victims and 26% of female Sexual assault victims). Overall, persons aged less than 20 years made up half of all Sexual assault victims (50% or 799 victims). (Table 7)

Four in five Sexual assault victims in South Australia knew their offender in 2015 (80% or 1,277 victims) – the equal highest proportion along with Tasmania. The proportion of victims who reported being sexually assaulted by a family member was the same for both males and females (32%), while female Sexual assault victims were twice as likely to be victimised by a stranger than males (20% compared to 10%). (Table 11)


ROBBERY

The number of Robbery victims in South Australia fell by 23% in 2015 to 567 victims, the second largest proportional decrease behind New South Wales. The decrease was similar for both Armed robbery (down 22% to 296 victims) and Unarmed robbery (down 26% to 266 victims). This is the fifth consecutive year that the number of Robbery victims has decreased, and the figure has halved since the beginning of the time series in 2010. (Table 6)

Half of all Unarmed robbery victims were victimised on a street or footpath (50% or 133 victims), compared to just over a quarter of Armed robbery victims (28% or 82 victims). The most common location for Armed robbery to take place was at a retail location (42% or 123 victims). Robbery victims reported a weapon being used 52% of the time (296 victims), with a knife the most common weapon (25% or 140 victims) followed by a bat/bar/club (8% or 46 victims). (Tables 8-9)

Persons made up 80% of Robbery victims in South Australia (455 victims), of which over two-thirds were male (69% or 313 victims). About a quarter of Robbery victims were aged between 25 and 34 years (26% or 119 victims). Robbery was committed by a stranger the majority of the time (80% or 365 victims), although the proportion committed by an offender known to the victim rose from 13% in 2014 to 18% in 2015. (Tables 7 & 14)




PROPERTY CRIME

Victims of Motor vehicle theft decreased by 3% (from 3,319 in 2014 to 3,217 in 2015). The number of Motor vehicle theft victims has decreased every year since the beginning of the time series. The largest property crime increase was for victims of Other theft, which rose by 6% from 34,692 to 37,128. Other theft most commonly took place at a retail location (45% or 16,690 victims), while Motor vehicle theft mostly occurred at either a residential location (51% or 1,628 victims) or the street/footpath (32% or 1,020 victims). (Tables 6 & 8)