AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ASSAULT

In 2016 the number of Assault victims in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) rose by 20%, from 1,919 victims in 2015 to 2,305 victims, to reach their highest levels in five years. (Table 6)



In 2016, almost a quarter of Assault victims in the ACT were aged between 25 and 34 years (24% or 547 victims). Male victims accounted for more than half (52%) of Assault victims, increasing by 13%, or 138 victims from 2015. Female victims of Assault increased by a larger proportion over the same period (up 23% or 90 victims). (Table 7 & historical data)

The proportion of female victims of Assault who knew their offender was almost twice as high as for male victims (81% compared to 48%), and for almost half of these female victims (49%) the offender was identified as a family member (506 victims). Conversely male victims were three times more likely than females to have been assaulted by a stranger (33% compared to 11%). (Tables 12 & 13)

The majority of recorded Assaults in 2016 did not involve the use of a weapon (88% or 2,021 victims). (Table 9)


SEXUAL ASSAULT

The number of victims of Sexual assault in the ACT has increased by 15% from 193 victims in 2010 to 256 victims in 2016, reaching their highest level since the beginning of the time series. However, after accounting for population growth, the ACT recorded the second lowest victimisation rate for Sexual assault in 2016 behind Tasmania (65 victims and 41 victims per 100,000 persons, respectively). (Table 6)

In 2016, there were more than five times as many female victims of Sexual assault in the ACT (212 victims) than males (40 victims). More than half (60%) of female victims were aged between 15 and 34 years (127 victims). (Table 7)

The majority of Sexual assaults (62%) occurred at a residential location (159 victims), with a further 22% at a community location (56 victims). (Table 8)

PROPERTY CRIME

The number of victims of property crime offence types decreased in the ACT between 2015 and 2016. (Table 6)

The largest decrease occurred amongst the number of victims of Other theft (down 14% or 1,498 victims), which contrasted against the national increase (5%) for victims of Other theft. The number of victims of Other theft from a community location decreased by 21% (or 787 victims) and the number of victims of Other theft from a retail location decreased by 13% (or 439 victims). (Tables 1, 6, 8 & historical data)

The number of victims of Unlawful entry with intent decreased by 8% (or 188 victims) from 2,492 victims in 2015 to 2,304 victims in 2016. The decrease was largely due to a decline in victimisation from a residential location (down 9% or 141 victims). (Tables 6, 8 & historical data)