AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

TOTAL OFFENDERS

In 2016–17 there were 2,762 offenders proceeded against by police in the Australian Capital Territory, a decrease of 4% (or 102 offenders) since 2015–16.

The offender rate also decreased to its lowest level for the time series (since 2008–09) at 784 offenders per 100,000 persons. The Australian Capital Territory has had the lowest offender rate across all states and territories annually since the beginning of the time series. (Tables 7–14)



SEX

Between 2015–16 and 2016–17, the number of male offenders in the Australian Capital Territory decreased by 4% (100 offenders) to 2,218 offenders. Despite this decrease, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of male offenders across all states and territories (at 80%). For the same reference period, the number of female offenders remained relatively stable, at 542 offenders. (Tables 14 and 15)


PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2016–17, the three most common principal offences in the Australian Capital Territory were:

• Acts intended to cause injury offences (26%, or 729 offenders)
• Public order offences (18%, or 484 offenders)
• Illicit drug offences (15%, or 418 offenders)

The offender rate for Public order offences has decreased by 32 offenders per 100,000 persons since the beginning of the time series in 2008–09, to reach its lowest levels in 2016–17 at 137 offenders per 100,000 persons. The Public order offence division includes a range of offences such as Disorderly conduct, Trespass, Betting and gambling offences and Offensive conduct (see Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (cat. no. 1234.0) for further information).



Between 2015–16 and 2016–17, the number of offenders with a principal offence of Illicit drug offences increased from 327 offenders to 418. This represented the highest level for this offence since the time series began in 2008–09. (Table 14)


YOUTH OFFENDERS

Between 2015–16 and 2016–17, the number of youth offenders decreased by 23% (or 93 offenders) to 319 offenders.

The youth offender rate also decreased for the period to its lowest levels since the time series began in 2008–09 at 884 youth offenders per 100,000 persons. This was the lowest rate of youth offenders across all states and territories and more than a third less than the second lowest rate, Victoria. (Table 20)


POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2016–17, there were a total of 3,559 police proceedings in the Australian Capital Territory.

For this reference period, offenders were more likely to be proceeded against via a court action, which accounted for 71% of proceedings. This represented a 4% increase (or 88 proceedings) since 2015–16, to 2,519 proceedings. Acts intended to cause injury accounted for the largest proportion of court actions, accounting for 29% (or 739 proceedings).

In 2016–17 the number of non-court proceedings reached its lowest levels since the time series began in 2008–09, to total 1,040 proceedings, representing a 28% (or 409 proceedings) decrease for this period.



This decrease was driven by a number of offences, most notably Theft which decreased by 75% (or 413 non-court proceedings) since 2008–09. (Table 32)